Team India will be taking confidence gained from Bristol draw into pink-ball Test, claims Mithali Raj

Expectations were low from India’s side heading into their one-off Test against England in Bristol, purely because of the lack of red-ball practice, with them having not played a Test match in seven years. But despite the hosts, several times in the contest, being in a position to kill the game, India kept fighting back relentlessly. A defeat seemed inevitable when England enforced the follow on but an astonishing display of grit, courage, patience and resolve from the batters on the final day ensured that the historic Test ended as a draw.

"Having said that, the mental space that these young girls are in after today's performance will have a very positive impact, moving into a longer format for the coming Pink Ball Test.”

"I think that's a great way to start a series where you know from a situation where we were literally looking at a Test mach loss, and from there we've come to a draw, that clearly shows that the girls are not ready to give up and they are ready to fight.

"That's something we're trying to build in our team environment and that's something we try and take it forward from here, so that the team grows from strength to strength, just not in one format, but each time we take the field," the Indian skipper said.

"Psychologically I think it's a big boost and will definitely put England on back foot because they know that even though the main batters have not performed, the lower middle order stood up," Mithali said at the post-match virtual conference.

"The Indian batting line up is deep now and it's not just the top-order. The lower middle order also can bat and put in match-winning partnerships," she said.