Birthday special: Richa Ghosh – India’s next superstar in the making
Sports have a history of encouraging some not-much-accepting masculine behaviours, which leads to prejudice both on and off the playing field. But against all the odds, a few talented sportswomen are not only participating in this sport that is dominated by men, but they are also embracing it. Richa Manabendra Ghosh, who was born on September 28, 2003, is one such wonder from Siliguri, West Bengal.
The Indian national cricket team’s wicketkeeper batter is one of the few talented ones, who has the potential and perseverance to achieve heights in the role. Many dream of making it big, but Richa achieved it by making her place in India’s T20 World Cup squad at the very young age of 16 years. And since then, she has only developed and has successfully made a permanent place for her in the playing combination as the regular wicketkeeper and a worthy middle-order batter.
Richa Ghosh got into sports when she was still quite young. She was about four years old when she first was inspired by her father Manabendra’s love for cricket. She was usually spotted near the Baghajatin Athletic Club’s boundaries in Siliguri. Richa frequently accompanied her father, who worked as a representative for the aforementioned club.
Richa Ghosh’s father entered her into a top training program at his club after noticing her strong and immediate attraction to cricket. Manabendra tried to persuade Richa to consider other options because he also struggled in cricket and was aware of the limited chances available to women. Her resolve was unwavering, though, and she was prepared to reclaim her position in cricket.
Ghosh, who turns 19 today, has primarily represented India in 20-over matches. She is touted as one of India’s potential cricketers and has firmly established herself in both formats thanks to her aggressive batting and precise skills with the gloves behind the stumps. She set a record for the fastest fifty by an Indian women’s cricket player when she scored 50 off 26 balls in the fourth One Day International against New Zealand in 2022.
On her World Cup debut, she became the first debutant to complete five or more dismissals, achieving a unique feat. Richa was able to secure a WBBL deal with the Hobart Hurricanes, thanks to her impressive showings in the three T20s she played against Australia. Richa Ghosh has emerged as one of the most outstanding and renowned players in Indian cricket, both at the national and international levels, despite all of the challenges she faced as a young child.
Richa was recently seen in the T20I series against England, where she became one of the most talked about players because of her wicket-keeping skills. Her glovework is quick, and she has the presence of mind not just behind the stumps, but also with the bat as she has contributed to India’s victories while anchoring the innings in the middle. It won’t take much time for her to rise to the top if she keeps working on herself and receives the proper training and support.
