Bengal's Cricket Star Richa Ghosh Honored at Grand Eden Gardens Ceremony
In a glittering ceremony at Kolkata's iconic Eden Gardens on Saturday, Bengal's first World Cup-winning cricketer Richa Ghosh was showered with multiple honors. The event brought together cricket legends Sourav Ganguly and Jhulan Goswami alongside West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, celebrating the 22-year-old's remarkable achievement.
Prestigious Awards and Recognition
The young wicketkeeper-batter from Siliguri received the state's highest civilian honor, the Banga Bhushan award, and was appointed as Deputy Superintendent of Police by the West Bengal government. Additionally, she was presented with a gold chain and a substantial cash award of Rs 34 lakh from the Cricket Association of Bengal - calculated at Rs 1 lakh for each run she scored in the final match.
Cricket Legends Praise Rising Star
Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly delivered an inspiring speech, highlighting the significance of Richa's achievement. "The World Cup triumph is a special, special win and only Richa can tell us what that feels like. Your career has just begun," Ganguly stated. He predicted massive growth for women's cricket in the coming years and expressed hope that Richa would eventually become Indian captain, following in Jhulan Goswami's footsteps.
Jhulan Goswami, India's highest ODI wicket-taker, revealed how she discovered Richa during Bengal's 2013 district trials in Siliguri. "During the under-15 trials in Siliguri, I spotted Richa. I requested the officials to support her. She was so talented at that age, I'd never seen that before," Goswami recalled, adding in Bengali, "Finally, tor haath diye amader World Cup ta aslo" (Finally, through your hands, the World Cup came to us).
Richa's Crucial World Cup Performance
Richa Ghosh's contribution to India's victory proved instrumental. Batting at the challenging number 7 position in the final against South Africa, she scored 34 runs off just 24 balls, including three fours and two sixes. Her explosive batting at a strike rate of over 130 helped India post 298 for 7, while South Africa managed only 246 runs in response.
Ganguly emphasized the difficulty of her role, noting: "The role she plays batting lower down the order is very difficult. You get fewer balls but you have to score the most runs. What she's done so simply is equal in value to Smriti or Harman."
Richa's Training Methods and Personal Insights
The young cricketer expressed her amazement at the reception she received, describing it as "living a dream." She shared insights into her unique training methodology: "When I bat at open nets, I set a target — how many runs I can score in a specific time. That helps me in big matches."
Regarding her ability to handle pressure, Richa revealed: "I like to take pressure, but I keep myself calm by watching movies and staying away from home." She added in Bengali, "Barite sob theke samne thakbe" (Everyone will be in front at home), indicating her family's supportive presence.
The ceremony was attended by Sports Minister Aroop Biswas, actor-MP Mimi Chakraborty from North Bengal, and Richa's proud parents, Manabendra and Swapna Ghosh. Earlier, Ganguly had presented Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with a replica of the 'Freedom Trophy' ahead of the India-South Africa Test series opener at Eden Gardens on November 14.
