Siliguri Celebrates Its Cricket Heroine
The streets of Siliguri erupted in celebration as thousands of enthusiastic fans gathered to welcome hometown hero Richa Ghosh on Friday. The Indian women's cricket team member returned to West Bengal following India's spectacular victory over South Africa in the Women's ODI World Cup 2025.
The grand reception began at Bagdogra Airport, where massive crowds greeted the world champion with traditional drums and cheers. Ghosh was transported in a hooded jeep through streets decorated with hoardings and banners specifically for her one-day visit to Siliguri.
World Cup Hero Shares Future Ambitions
Ghosh, who emerged as the tournament's most powerful hitter with 12 sixes, shared her future goals and reflections on Indian cricket's evolving landscape. "It was a dream to play for India. I played with the dream of winning the trophy. My best match was against South Africa. Now the goal is to win the T20 World Cup," the cricketer stated.
She attributed her success to three fundamental principles: dedication, hard work, and discipline. The champion cricketer also acknowledged the crucial support from her parents and cited legendary bowler Jhulan Goswami as her primary inspiration.
Pay Parity and WPL: Game Changers for Women's Cricket
Ghosh emphasized the transformative impact of recent developments in women's cricket, particularly praising the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for implementing pay parity and launching the Women's Premier League (WPL).
"Pay parity and the beginning of WPL are great achievements that will encourage girls to join sports and cricket," she explained. "It will help them consider it as a serious career. Also, WPL is a platform where if someone performs well, there's a chance of inclusion in the Indian cricket team."
The World Cup winner also recalled the team's motivational meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that "how people look at Indian cricket will change now - it wouldn't be 'Women's team' anymore now that we have won the World Cup."
Call for Better Sports Infrastructure
Looking toward the future, Ghosh advocated for improved sports facilities in her hometown, expressing her desire to see more girls taking up sports. "There is a need for a good stadium in Siliguri not only for cricket but for other sports too," she emphasized.
The celebrations continued throughout Friday with multiple receptions honoring the cricket star. The Siliguri Municipal Corporation and Siliguri Sub-Divisional Sports Council organized a grand welcome at Baghajatin Park, where the municipal corporation rolled out a 200-meter red carpet from Ghosh's house in Subhashpalli.
In a touching tribute, local women cricketers lined both sides of the road, giving Richa a guard of honor by raising their bats. The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has scheduled a formal reception for Saturday, where cricket legends Sourav Ganguly and Jhulan Goswami are expected to attend.
On November 8, CAB will honor Richa with a special gold-plated bat and ball signed by both Ganguly and Goswami at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, marking another milestone in the young cricketer's extraordinary journey.
