Jhulan Goswami a.k.a Jhulan Nischit Goswami, the highest wicket-taker in women’s cricket with 355 wickets bids adieu to her international cricket career.
The Veteran Indian Women Pacer has played her last international game here at hallowed Lord’s stadium, London on Saturday.
At the age of 19, Chakdaha-born girl, Goswami made her International debut on January 6, 2002, against England in Chennai.
Two decades of cricketing career
Jhulan Goswami represented the Indian cricket team for two decades and gave a scintillating performance with the ball in the subcontinent as well in overseas matches.
The journey of Jhulan Goswami begins at Chakdaha, a small town in the Nadia district of West Bengal State. She travelled 80 Km a day to train in Kolkata for three days a week which shows her passion for the sport.
The towering fast bowler became a trailblazer in Women’s cricket. Her decade long journey inspires generations of girls in India to take up the sport.
The 39 old pacer became the oldest female cricketer to represent the country. The record was earlier held by legendary cricketer Mithali Raj, who retired in June 2022.
She is regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time in women’s one-day international cricket. In her last appearance for the country, Jhulan achieved a milestone by becoming the first player to bowl 10,000 deliveries in women’s international cricket.
Movie on Jhulan Goswami
The film ‘Chakda Xpress‘ starring Anushka Sharma is based on the Jhulan’s cricket journey which began from the Vivekananda Park nets in Kolkata to the Lord’s cricket ground in London, where India lost the World Cup final against England by nine runs in July 2017.
Jhulan in her recent interview said, “not winning World Cup is the biggest regret in my entire cricket journey”.
Jhulan had a brief stint in T20 International cricket and got retired in August 2018. Jhulan is the only Indian woman with a five-wicket haul across formats.
Star cricketer Mithali Raj and Goswami’s heroics with bat created history by winning the first test series in England in the 2006-07 season.
Jhulan’s long span of cricket witnessed many achievements, awards and rewards. The veteran pacer led the Indian Women’s Team in 25 ODI matches for a span of three years till 2011.
Jhulan decorated career
In the year 2010, Jhulan was honoured with India’s second highest sporting honour Arjun Award for her extraordinary performances in the game.
She is also a recipient of India’s fourth highest civilian award Padma Shree in 2012 and became the second Indian women cricketer to receive the award after legendary women cricketer Diana Edulji.
Department of Posts, Government of India honoured the legendary cricketer by issuing a postage stamp in April 2018
Adding to glory, the Indian pacer became the first Indian to win the International Cricket Council (ICC) women’s cricketer of the year award.
Goswami appeared in the five one-day International World Cups, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2022. Jhulan’s dream of becoming part of a World Cup-winning team came closer in 2005 and 2017, but India lost in both finals.
Awards and Honours
Honoured with Padma Shree in 2012.
Recipient of Arjun Award in 2010
ICC Women’s Player of the year – 2007
M.A Chidambaram Trophy for Best Women’s Cricketer – 2011.
An Indian postage stamp was issued in her honour in April 2018
Most wickets in Women’s Internationals – 355
Most wickets in Women ODIs – 255
Most wickets in women’s world cups – 43
Most over bowled in women’s international – 2270.2
First player to bowl 10,000 deliveries in WODI.
Third-best figures in WODIs for India (against New Zealand in 2011) – 6/31.
Test Match wickets for India (12 matches) – 44
Second most player featured in Women’s ODI – 204
Second longest Women’s ODI career – 20 years 261 days.
Two times Runner-up medal in 2005 and 2017 World Cups
Three-time Winner of Asia Cup.
