At a time when Smriti Mandhana has been in sensational form, laying claim for the best batter in the world in the women’s game, India can consider themselves blessed to have found an ideal finisher in Richa Ghosh.
On Thursday night at the DY Patil Stadium, Ghosh, giving the 47,204-capacity crowd plenty to cheer, smashed a world record-equalling fastest 50, reaching the milestone in just 18 balls while sending the hapless West Indies bowlers to the cleaners.
The 21-year-old, who blasted 54 off 21 balls, including five sixes and three fours, joined an exclusive club that features New Zealand’s Sophie Devine and Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield. Her innings helped India pile on 217 for four-their highest-ever T20I score, as the hosts romped to a 60-run victory in the third T20I on Thursday. The 2-1 series victory was the Indian women’s team’s first at home in T20Is since 2019.
Some of the sixes that the explosive ‘keeper-batter, who hails from Siliguri in Bengal, clubbed, landed in the crowd, which reflected her prowess at power-hitting. Ghosh said she always has had the mindset to play attacking cricket and got inspired to play the big shots watching her father Manabendra Ghosh, a former cricketer who is also her coach.
“The mindset to play aggressively is there in every game which comes from practice sessions. If we have done something in practice, it feels easier to do to it in a match. I had prepared in that manner and that helped me. I have always loved power-hitting. I have also seen my father hit big shots. I have worked hard on my fitness and in the practice sessions,” Ghosh told reporters after her knock.
She also credited her chats with renowned big hitters of the women’s game like Devine and West Indies’ allrounder Deandra Dottin and Indian women’s team captain Harmanpreet Kaur for improving her hitting ability.
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