In a heart-stopping climax to their Vijay Hazare Trophy encounter, the Maharashtra cricket team, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, pulled off a miraculous five-run victory against Goa. The match seemed destined for Goa's win, requiring a mere 11 runs from 18 balls with the set half-centurion Lalit Yadav (57*) at the crease. However, pace-bowling all-rounder Ramakrishna Ghosh turned the game on its head with an exceptional display of death bowling.
The Decisive Final Over: A Bowling Masterclass
With just one wicket in hand, Goa's batters were restricted in their strokeplay. The game reached its nail-biting peak when Goa needed 6 runs from the final 6 deliveries. Ramakrishna Ghosh, entrusted with the ball, delivered under immense pressure. He revealed in an exclusive chat with TimesofIndia.com that captain Ruturaj Gaikwad's advice was simple: focus on bowling yorkers.
"I knew Lalit would try to hit me for a six. We had just four fielders outside the circle which was a major disadvantage. However, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad told me to just focus on bowling yorkers which I calmly executed," Ghosh stated. The plan worked to perfection. Ghosh bowled a maiden in the 50th over, with Yadav failing to connect a single ball on the final delivery where six runs were needed. This followed another maiden from Ghosh in the 48th over, making his spell a match-winning one.
Ghosh's Stellar All-Round Tournament
This performance was the highlight of an outstanding campaign for the 28-year-old, who was a standout performer for Maharashtra. The team finished third in their VHT group, with Ghosh shining in both departments. With the bat, he amassed 225 runs in seven matches, playing crucial knocks of 73 against Punjab and a blistering, unbeaten 27-ball 64 against Mumbai.
With the ball, he was even more lethal, ending the edition as one of the leading wicket-takers. He accounted for 17 dismissals at an economy rate of 5.10. His most remarkable feat was a spell of 7 wickets for 42 runs against Himachal Pradesh, placing him in an exclusive list of bowlers with a seven-wicket haul in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
The Mentors Behind the Success: Dhoni, Gaikwad & Holding
Ghosh's composure in high-pressure situations, like the final over against Goa, stems from a pivotal interaction with the legendary MS Dhoni. During a Chennai Super Kings (CSK) practice match at Chepauk, a young Ghosh was taken apart by Dhoni while trying to bowl wide yorkers at high pace. "Dhoni highlighted the need to focus on execution in an intelligent manner rather than simply indulging in a lot of planning. That interaction marked a significant shift in my approach as a bowler," Ghosh shared.
His cricketing journey began in Nashik under his father, former Maharashtra cricketer Shekhar Ghosh. Initially a leg-spinner, a growth spurt shifted him to pace bowling, where he found inspiration in videos of West Indies great Michael Holding, meticulously studying and emulating his action.
A decisive move to Pune at 18, with a self-imposed two-year ultimatum to succeed, proved transformative. There, he found a mentor in Ruturaj Gaikwad. Gaikwad backed his talent, recommending him for the Maharashtra Premier League and eventually a stint with CSK, where Ghosh currently plays. His coach worked on his batting, transforming him from a pure bowler to a formidable all-rounder. This development has even drawn praise from Ravichandran Ashwin, who noted the Indian team needs an all-rounder like him.
With his high pace, athleticism, and power-hitting, CSK fans have started drawing comparisons to Hardik Pandya. While flattered, Ghosh maintains a focused outlook: "I admire Hardik. It feels nice to hear such things. However, I just want to be the best." His performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy are a strong testament to that very ambition.
