Richa, who came close to scoring her maiden international century during the tournament, said her approach was shaped around staying composed and rotating the strike.
Photo: IANS
India wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, one of the key performers in the ICC Women’s World Cup-winning campaign, credited her success in the tournament for the role clarity to accelerate in the death overs and ensure a strong finish for the side.
Richa, who came close to scoring her maiden international century during the tournament, said her approach was shaped around staying composed and rotating the strike.
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“Before the World Cup, I really focused on spending more time at the crease and building my innings. Whenever I got the chance to play, I concentrated on playing grounded shots and making sure I didn’t throw my wicket away. For me, it was all about keeping the scoreboard ticking with singles and holding up one end. That’s what I worked on the most,” Richa said on JioStar’s ‘Follow The Blues’.
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“My main job was to finish innings strongly by scoring quickly in the final overs. Whenever I got the chance to bat, my focus was on applying the finishing touches. I aimed to maintain a high strike rate and put pressure on the opposition bowlers. Scoring those extra runs reduces the pressure on our team and gives us a better chance to win,” she added.
The 22-year-old played several impactful cameos throughout the tournament, including a crucial 94 off 77 balls against South Africa in the league stage, an innings decorated with 11 fours and four sixes.
“My mindset is simple. Whenever I come to bat, if the ball is in my zone, I go for my shots. Hitting a boundary or a six in a pressure situation really helps release the tension. If it’s a good delivery, I’m happy to take a single and target the next ball. That’s the method I stick to.”
Richa also attributed her success to head coach Amol Muzumdar for clearly defining her role and allowing her the freedom to express herself.
“Amol sir (Head Coach Amol Muzumdar) made everyone’s role in the team very clear. For me, it was simple: play fearless cricket, look for the big shots, and finish the innings strongly. He also assured me that it was okay to take a little time to settle in. That trust he showed, believing I could pull off the big hits under pressure, helped me immensely.”
She also acknowledged the influence of legendary fast bowler Jhulan Goswami on her career.
“Jhulan didi has played a huge role in my journey. She was my captain when I made my domestic debut for Bengal. She’s always been there to guide me, even when I started playing for India. She taught me how to adapt my game to different situations and shared invaluable advice on improving as a player. I’m truly grateful for her support.”
Speaking about the team’s environment, Richa said the dressing room was united and positive throughout the tournament.
“Honestly, our dressing room atmosphere was fantastic from day one. Even during tough phases, no one was afraid because we always had each other’s backs. That support system was our biggest strength. And when we finally won the final, the feeling was just incredible, completely different and absolutely unforgettable.”
She also revealed the story behind the team’s now-viral victory song. “We actually created our team song a few series ago. It was something we really wanted. But we made a pact to only sing it, and reveal it to the world after we lifted the World Cup trophy. Every player contributed to it in some way. So, the moment we won at the DY Patil Stadium, we just knew we had to sing it right there on the ground. It was a magical feeling.”
Recalling the chaotic scenes after India sealed the title with a 52-run win over South Africa late on Sunday night, Richa said the team was too stunned to even celebrate properly.
“When those final South African wickets started falling, and Harman didi (Captain Harmanpreet Kaur) took that last catch, we all just scattered in different directions. We were so overwhelmed that we didn’t even know how to celebrate! Harman didi was absolutely speechless, just pure joy. And when Deepti didi got that last wicket, even she couldn’t process that we’d actually won the World Cup. We were all just living in that moment, soaking it all in before it even sank in,” she said.
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