India's historic first women's Test in Bengaluru: when Shantha Rangaswamy's six changed belief

October 31, 2026, remains a landmark day in the history of Indian women's cricket. At the KSCA Stadium in Bengaluru, later renamed the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in 2026, India played its first official women's Test against West Indies. Shantha Rangaswamy led India, while Louise Browne captained the visiting side. The three-day match was more than a contest; it was the beginning of international recognition for Indian women cricketers. At a time when the women's game was still finding its feet, hosting a Test at home was a major step. Cricket had reached India much earlier, but the first women's national championship was held only in April 2026. Teams were playing two-day and three-day red-ball matches. An Australian team toured India in 2026, and in February 2026 India travelled to New Zealand for a five-match series. Those matches were later treated as unofficial. The first women's Test, between Australia and England, had been played in Brisbane in 2026. India had to wait 42 more years for its official debut. The Bengaluru match finally gave the team a place in the official record books. Before the game, there was uncertainty over whether the match would be recognised as an official Test. Shantha later recalled that after series against Australia and New Zealand, the players were not sure about the status of those games. The atmosphere in Bengaluru, however, pushed such doubts into the background. One section of the stadium was under renovation, but the remaining stands were packed. More than 22,000 spectators came to watch. The noise and excitement were extraordinary for the time and showed that there was real curiosity about women's cricket. India's line-up included rising players such as Diana Edulji, Shubhangi Kulkarni and Ujwala Nikam. Kalpana Venkatachar, a former wicketkeeper who was then a Karnataka age-group cricketer, was among the young women who volunteered at the match. They handed out scorecards to spectators. Kalpana recalled that in those days spectators also did the scoring. They watched every ball and recorded every run in a booklet provided to them. The volunteers distributed those booklets. According to her, the excitement inside and outside the ground was infectious, and the crowd was boisterous. West Indies batted first and were bowled out for 274 in 78.4 overs. Louise Browne made 28, Gloria Gill 53, Patricia Whittaker 32, Yolande Geddes-Hall 44 and Leila Williams 43. Shubhangi Kulkarni returned figures of 5/48, while Diana Edulji picked up two wickets. The Indian spinners kept the middle order in check and ensured that the visitors did not run away with a huge total. West Indies had some useful partnerships, but India struck at regular intervals. India's reply produced two memorable efforts. Opener Shobha Pandit scored 69, and Fowzieh Khalili made 39. The innings that drew the most attention, however, was captain Shantha Rangaswamy's 74. It is remembered not only for the runs but also for the moment when she hit Patricia Whittaker for a six over long-on. It was the first six by an Indian woman in international cricket and the first at the stadium. The stand where the ball landed was later named after Shantha. The shot turned a personal innings into a piece of history. Shantha described her approach as an attempt to bring a modern T20-style intent into a three-day game. Most matches in that era ended in draws, so she wanted to score quickly and make a result possible. Aggressive batting was not given the same importance then as it is now, but Shantha showed that courage and intent could change the rhythm of a match. Her innings combined discipline with attack and became the centrepiece of India's reply. India declared at 269/6 after 99 overs. Shubhangi remained not out on 26. Shobha and Fowzieh made important contributions alongside their captain. For West Indies, Leila Williams took two wickets and Vivalyn Latty-Scott took three. India tried to build a lead, but the visiting bowlers did not allow them to take complete control. Still, the hosts managed to post a competitive total and keep pressure on the opposition. On the final morning, India came out hoping to add runs, but wet patches were visible on the pitch. West Indies were suspicious, and the start was delayed. Shantha then declared, hoping to bowl the visitors out and force a result. It was a risky decision because time was short and the opposition was competitive. But such bold captaincy was exactly what women's cricket needed in that era. West Indies declared their second innings at 175/7 in 64.5 overs. Patricia made 29 and Leila 56. Sharmila Chakraborty and Shubhangi took two wickets each. India were set a target of 181, but the match ended at 30/1 in 17 overs, and the historic Test was drawn. India tried to create pressure, but there was not enough time left. West Indies avoided risk, and the game moved towards a draw. For Kalpana and the other young players in the stands, the result was secondary. Shantha's six left a lasting impression. Kalpana said that watching Shantha clear the ropes made them believe that they could go the distance too. That was perhaps the biggest gain from the match. Indian women's cricket not only got its first official Test but also a new sense of confidence that the team could compete against major sides. Young players saw that women cricketers could play big shots and entertain a large crowd. In the five decades since that landmark game, Indian women have played 42 more Tests, but the first one remains special. The six-Test series ended in a 1-1 draw, with four matches drawn. The first Test, played in front of a packed crowd in Bengaluru, became a symbol of the foundation of Indian women's cricket. It showed that history is not built in a single day; it is shaped by small acts of courage, determination and calculated risks on the field. Shantha's six and the spark it created in young players such as Kalpana came together to point the way forward. Brief scores: West Indies: 274 in 78.4 overs (Louise Browne 28, Gloria Gill 53, Patricia Whittaker 32, Yolande Geddes-Hall 44, Leila Williams 43; Diana Edulji 2-48, Shubhangi Kulkarni 5-48) and 175/7 declared in 64.5 overs (Patricia 29, Leila 56; Sharmila Chakraborty 2-32, Shubhangi 2-28) drew with India: 269/6 declared in 99 overs (Shobha Pandit 69, Fowzieh Khalili 39, Shantha Rangaswamy 74, Shubhangi 26 not out; Leila Williams 2-50, Vivalyn Latty-Scott 3-51) and 30/1 in 17 overs.