The longest format of cricket has always carried a different kind of meaning for many players. The whites, the red ball and the rhythm of a multi-day contest represent tradition, endurance and character. For India all-rounder Sneh Rana, Test cricket embodies all of those qualities and perhaps even mirrors her own personality.
Calm, composed and quietly determined, Rana has built her career around patience and discipline, someone who values peace away from the field. She enjoys spending time reading books and embracing quiet moments, traits that naturally align with the demands of Test cricket. In many ways, the format reflects her approach to both cricket and life — steady, thoughtful and built on persistence over time.
The Indian off-spinner is also comfortable in Australian conditions, having toured the country before. Playing in Australia offers a very different experience compared to India, particularly when it comes to pitch conditions and the overall rhythm of the game. Rana says those differences are part of what makes international cricket exciting. With the team now turning its attention to the One-Off Pink-Ball Test match, Rana’s excitement about Test cricket is evident. “Now we are heading towards the Test match, and Test cricket is my favourite format,” she said.
For Rana, the connection with Test cricket goes back to the earliest days of her journey in the sport. “I think it has an emotion attached,” she explained. “When you start playing cricket in academies you start with the whites, and the feel of the red ball which I think all the players will agree with me, well some might not but I think in the back of the mind of everyone there’s that emotion attached to the red ball.”
That emotional connection is also tied to the challenges that Test cricket brings. Unlike the faster-paced limited-overs formats, the red-ball game demands resilience and endurance over long periods of play. “Test cricket tests you in all forms — your patience, your grit, your skill, your fitness, endurance,” Rana said. “I think it tests all the things. And it’s a long format of cricket, so how you take on and play the format matters the most. That’s why it’s everyone’s favourite.”
Rana’s appreciation for Test cricket was shaped partly by watching the format. Among the players she admired most was India’s dependable batter Cheteshwar Pujara. “I’ve liked Test cricket since the start. I even enjoy watching Test cricket a lot,” she said. “When Cheteshwar Pujara used to play Tests, I used to like his batting a lot. He used to stand like a wall for India. The way he used to hold his pose, I used to think I even wanted to play like this.”
As she prepares for the Australia Test, Rana also draws confidence from her own recent performances in the format. One of her most memorable outings came against South Africa, where she delivered an outstanding bowling display claiming a 10-wicket haul in the match. “The way I played in the last Test match, the confidence I had against South Africa, I would like to carry that forward,” she said. “I want to fulfil my own expectations or even go beyond that and try and take more wickets for my team in the Test match.”
With more than 100 runs and 23 wickets (7 innings) in Test cricket, Rana has already established herself as one of India’s key performers in the format. Yet for her, the motivation remains simple, to continue contributing whenever the opportunity arises. “It’s a special feeling to perform for your country like this,” she said. “So I’m hopeful that I can give my best here as well.” For a player who values patience and quiet determination, Test cricket offers the perfect stage, and Rana appears more than ready for the challenge once again.
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