Jhulan Goswami asks BCCI for more attention towards women’s team

Former Indian cricketer Jhulan Goswami has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India to focus more Indian Women’s cricket team with a settled new coach and a support staff. Jhulan, who retired after the ODI series against England in September 2022, seemed clueless about India’s decision to play against Australia without a settled support staff.

Just a few days before the home T20I series against Australia, BCCI took a surprising decision to move the head coach Ramesh Powar to the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Indian women’s team suffered a big 1-4 series defeat against Australia at home. The Indian team did not had a regular head coach and specialist bowling coach. Only Hrishikesh Kanitkar was appointed batting coach in his absence.

India women’s team, fourth in the current ICC T20I Team’s chart, will be participating in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Still, there is no update on the vacant head coach position from the BCCI. Jhulan, while speaking at the Dilip Sardesai Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, added that the BCCI should give the coaches full support and a full term before judging them.

“It is difficult for me to comment as I am not part of the dressing room. But I think down the line you’ll have to settle down, have a good plan and a vision. Whoever is there, give them a full-term, give them full support and then judge them. I don’t know why all those decisions were taken, and even I want to see a settled coach, a settled support staff. That’s required for the Indian team,” she said.

I never went to a BCCI official to complain against a coach: Jhulan Goswami

Indian team, without a bowling coach, managed to take only two wickets in the opening two T20Is against Australia. After losing the third game, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur admitted that the team is lacking a specialist bowling coach. There had been reported rumours about a rift between the Indian captain and Powar, which led to the latter’s sacking.

But Jhulan revealed that she never complained about coaches or support staff during her 20-year international career. She added that she always approached BCCI for improved facilities or for more domestic matches.

“Honestly speaking, in my 20 years, I never went to a BCCI official to complain against a coach or support staff. I would go there and complain about facilities or ask for more domestic matches. I would request them for a masseur with the team, or for business class tickets for the team. But I never told them that we don’t want this coach or that coach. That way I was not there in decision-making,” Goswami added.