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By:

Kiran D. Tare

21 August 2024 at 11:23:13 am

The Lady of Lord’s

Yastika Bhatia’s maiden Test century at Lord’s crowns the rise of an elegant wicketkeeper-batter who has quietly become indispensable to India’s new generation. Critics may say that there are flashier cricketers than Yastika Bhatia. She does not possess the raw power of a Smriti Mandhana or the aura of a Harmanpreet Kaur. She rarely dominates highlight reels or social media clips. Instead, she has built her reputation through reliability – a quality far more vital. At a time when white-ball...

The Lady of Lord’s

Yastika Bhatia’s maiden Test century at Lord’s crowns the rise of an elegant wicketkeeper-batter who has quietly become indispensable to India’s new generation. Critics may say that there are flashier cricketers than Yastika Bhatia. She does not possess the raw power of a Smriti Mandhana or the aura of a Harmanpreet Kaur. She rarely dominates highlight reels or social media clips. Instead, she has built her reputation through reliability – a quality far more vital. At a time when white-ball cricket prizes spectacle, the 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has become one of India’s finest practitioners of the understated virtues of timing, patience and composure. Bhatia’s 113 against England which powered the Indian women’s side to a historic win at Lord’s was not merely her maiden Test century but the first ever scored by a woman at cricket’s most celebrated venue. The innings helped India seal a comprehensive 270-run victory in the first women’s Test ever staged at Lord’s. Her hundred earned her a place on the Lord’s honours board, where generations of the game’s greatest names have been immortalised. Few entries have carried quite the same symbolism. Until now, no woman’s name had appeared there for a Test century because no women’s Test had ever been played at the ground. Bhatia’s career has mirrored the evolution of Indian women’s cricket itself. Born in Vadodara, she emerged through Gujarat’s domestic circuit at a time when opportunities for young women were expanding but remained far from abundant. A naturally gifted left-hander, she impressed selectors with a technique that appeared more classical than contemporary. Where modern batting often relies on innovation and improvisation, Bhatia’s game is rooted in balance. She plays late, favours placement over power and rarely appears rushed. Such attributes explain why coaches have long regarded her as especially suited to the demands of Test cricket, even though women are offered precious few opportunities to play the format. Modern wicketkeepers are expected to contribute almost as specialist batters while maintaining relentless concentration over long periods. Bhatia has embraced both responsibilities, becoming an important cog in an Indian side that has steadily shed its dependence on a handful of senior stars. That transformation has accelerated dramatically over the past year. India’s maiden Women’s ODI World Cup triumph marked a watershed for the sport, confirming that the country's women could finally translate promise into silverware. Although Bhatia missed that campaign after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury shortly before the tournament, her absence perhaps underscored her growing importance. Months of rehabilitation restored her confidence. If the World Cup represented the one that got away, Lord’s offered redemption. Returning to international cricket only recently, Bhatia produced an innings of remarkable maturity against England’s experienced attack. Her 113 came from 158 balls, balancing restraint with authority as India tightened their grip on the match. She admitted that six months earlier, while beginning rehabilitation, the idea of seeing her name on the Lord’s honours board would have seemed implausible. Those who know her were scarcely surprised. Former Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More, who has mentored Bhatia, has long spoken of her temperament rather than merely her talent. Scoring a century at Lord’s, he observed, is an ambition shared by virtually every cricketer. Achieving it after months away from the game simply reflected the resilience that had always underpinned her cricket. But hers was not a sentimental century assembled through fortune. It was a technically accomplished performance built on judgement outside off stump, crisp drives through the covers and the patience required by the longest format. It showcased precisely why Test cricket continues to matter. Unlike Twenty20, where brilliance can be compressed into a handful of overs, the five-day game rewards concentration accumulated over hours. For Indian women’s cricket, Bhatia’s century represents something larger than an individual milestone. It demonstrates the increasing depth of a side that is no longer defined solely by its biggest names. New heroes are emerging, backed by stronger domestic structures, better coaching and a professionalism unimaginable a decade ago. The honours board at Lord’s records statistics with characteristic restraint. It simply notes that Yastika Bhatia scored a century. Future generations may glance at the name without appreciating the path that led there. But Indian cricket will remember that the first woman to reach three figures at Lord’s was not merely making history. She was announcing that a new generation has arrived.

How Modi’s Visit Could Be A Game Changer for Trade?

Updated: Feb 18, 2025

Modi

The most awaited meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump that took place on February 13, 2025 primarily focused on Trade, Defense ties, AI and space exploration. The key highlights of the meeting were primarily- India-US launch mission 500 for a double bi-lateral trade in 2030, Defense ties, F35 Fighter Jet deal, Space Exploration and AI cooperation.


What is India-US mission 500?

It is an ambitious project chalked out by both the countries with an aim to double the bi-lateral trade between India and the United States to $ billion by 2030. Reports highlighted that Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasized Mission-500, which seeks to elevate bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030. Addressing a press conference, Misri said, “The two leaders have jointly launched the US-India Compact for the 21st Century to foster deeper collaboration in defense, trade, and technology. In the area of trade and investment, Mission-500 has been introduced to more than double total two-way trade to USD 500 billion by 2030.” He further said, “Additionally, the leaders unveiled plans to establish a new 10-year framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership, spanning from 2025 to 2035.”


The mission focuses on several key areas, including, identifying and eliminating trade barriers to facilitate smoother transactions, promoting investment opportunities, encouraging investments in key sectors such as technology, energy, and manufacturing. Establishing joint working groups to address trade challenges and opportunities, and fostering collaboration in emerging sectors like digital economy and clean energy are also of top focus.


The successful execution of Mission 500 is expected to yield significant benefits, including increased job creation and economic growth in both countries, enhanced technological exchange and innovation, and strengthened geopolitical ties and strategic partnership.


Both leaders acknowledged existing trade tensions and expressed a commitment to resolving them. While President Trump called for the need to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with India by increasing American energy exports, Prime Minister Modi pledged to double bilateral trade by 2030. Both agreed to work towards finalizing segments of a trade deal by fall 2025.


Another important announcement that came was from Trump regarding the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, implicated in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, to India. Trump expressed willingness to support the extradition. Besides, Prime Minister Modi assured the return of Indian citizens residing illegally in the U.S.


What is the F-35 fighter jet deal?

The F-35 fighterjet deal refers to the procurement of the Lockhead Martin F-35 Lightning II by various countries. The deal involves the purchase of F-35 aircraft, munitions, and related equipment. During their recent meeting, Modi and Trump discussed enhancing defense cooperation between the two nations. Trump announced plans to increase military sales to India, including the potential provision of F-35 stealth fighter jets. These are among the most advanced fighter jets globally featuring stealth capabilities and cutting-edge avionics. If acquired, it would significantly bolster India’s air combat capabilities.


Space Exploration and AI cooperation

Several key announcements were made including the US-India TRUST initiative which is a road map for AI infrastructure, and the INDUS Innovation platform to foster partnerships in defence, space and energy. According to the official statement, the leaders hailed 2025 as a pioneering year for US-India civil space cooperation with plans for a NASA-ISRO effort through AXIOM, to bring the first Indian astronaut to the International space station. It also mentioned a likely early launch of the joint NISAR mission, which will be the first of its kind to systematically map changes to the earth’s surface using dual radars.


Echoing US President Donald Trump’s agenda at the White House, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced his vision of Make India Great Again, reiterating his tough stand that just like Trump, New Delhi is also firm on keeping the national interest on the top priority. The statement came when both the world leaders addressed a joint press conference on Thursday Feb 14, after their meeting got concluded in Washington DC.


Lastly, another key highlight was the reciprocal tariffs. Trump recently announced that he proposes to answer foreign import taxes on US goods with rates equal to what each country imposes. Trump has since long been expressing his disappointment over India for its high tariff rate on foreign goods. Reports highlight that on some occasions he even called PM Modi the “king of tariffs”. However, after the meeting, both Trump and Modi announced they would follow up on a strategy for enhancing cooperation on the issue.

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