New Delhi: India’s dynamic all-rounder Richa Ghosh is ready for her next big challenge — the T20 World Cup in England next year — after playing a defining role in India’s historic One-Day International World Cup victory earlier this year, despite battling a painful hairline fracture.
The 22-year-old from Siliguri, West Bengal, believes that the Women’s Premier League (WPL), where she represents Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), will be a crucial platform to fine-tune her game for the shortest format.
“The T20 World Cup is going to be very important for me. We have achieved the ODI title, but now our eyes are firmly set on the T20 crown,” Richa said during a virtual interaction.
“Before that, the WPL is my focus — the goal is to help RCB perform well and keep the winning momentum going.”
Retained by RCB alongside Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry, Ghosh hinted that the team is already gearing up for another strong campaign next season.
“I can’t share all the plans yet, but the aim is simple — to bring the second trophy home,” she added with a smile.
From Injury to Inspiration
Richa’s explosive batting was instrumental in India’s World Cup triumph, where she matched Deandra Dottin’s record of 12 sixes, the most in a single edition of the Women’s World Cup. Despite a finger injury, she produced match-winning knocks — 26 off 16 balls in the semi-final against Australia, and a steady 34 off 24 balls in the final against South Africa, which India won by 52 runs.
“Every athlete faces highs and lows, but handling the tough phases defines your character,” she reflected.
“I was representing India — that alone was enough motivation to push through the pain. The physios and support staff trusted me, and that belief helped me recover faster.”
Looking Ahead: Red-Ball Ambitions
Since her international debut in 2020, Richa’s trophy collection has grown impressively — including the 2023 Under-19 World Cup, 2022 Asian Games gold, and 2022 Commonwealth Games silver. Now, she hopes to make a bigger mark in the Test format as well.
“There’s a special joy in red-ball cricket — you have time to build your innings and test your patience. I want to score big and perform consistently in the longer format,” she said.
As one of the brightest young faces of Indian women’s cricket, Richa Ghosh continues to embody the fearless, new-age spirit of the team — driven by resilience, hunger, and a dream to bring the T20 World Cup home.
