NEW DELHI: Social media was abuzz with criticism after India's shocking four-run capitulation against England in their Women’s World Cup 2025 group-stage match. The hosts meekly surrendered despite needing 36 runs off 30 balls with six wickets in hand, crumbling to an all-too-familiar choke against Nat Sciver-Brunt’s side. The defeat brought back unpleasant memories of India’s loss in the 2017 World Cup final against the same opposition, where they lost their last seven wickets for 28 runs in 6.5 overs.
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Experts questioned the lack of intent, highlighting it as a major concern in case of a high-pressure face-off against big-hitting sides like Australia during the tournament’s knockouts. In stepped Richa Ghosh just when the Indian team needed a game-changer — during the semifinal against Australia and the final against South Africa — smashing the ball fearlessly on the biggest stage. The 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batter struck 26 off 16 balls in the semifinal, a knock comprising two fours and two sixes, helping the hosts gain a sizeable edge while chasing 339. Richa further stepped up in the final when the team needed big hits following the dismissals of Shafali Verma and Harmanpreet Kaur, scoring 34 off 24 balls, which included three fours and two sixes.
While the Bengal cricketer’s heroics were on full display, what made the feats even more impressive was the pain barrier she pushed through to perform for the national team. Richa battled through a hairline fracture in the middle finger of her left hand, as revealed by Bengal fast-bowling coach Shib Shankar Paul, who has coached her since the age of 13.
"Richa suffered a broken finger but smashed massive sixes despite that, which showcases her willpower. I told her, 'Don't get scared. All pain will go away, but the World Cup cannot get away from our grasp. Come back after winning the tournament.' She responded, 'Yes, I have lost out on an opportunity to win the World Cup in 2022. I have to pull it off this time,’" said Paul in an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com.
Richa scored 235 runs in eight innings at an average of 39.16 during the recently concluded World Cup, with a strike rate of 133.52 — the highest in the tournament. The Bengal cricketer also led the way in hitting sixes, smashing 12 of them. Richa’s high-impact gameplay especially shone through in the group-stage match against eventual finalists South Africa, where she scored 94 off 77 balls in a knock comprising 11 fours and four sixes. This success has been the result of a fearless yet structured training programme, built on immense discipline and dietary control.
"Richa started off as a big-hitting opener, but I told her to bat at number five and finish matches. She bats from morning till evening daily, facing 100–150 balls of each shot with a specific focus on power-hitting. The training sessions are conducted with boys. Richa doesn’t wear a thigh pad even if I ask her to, and she won’t leave the field despite an injury. She once hit a six during practice that shattered a car’s glass. I told the owner, 'Take a picture with her. You can share this incident after Richa helps India win the World Cup,’" said Paul.
Richa’s significant success has also stemmed from improved mental clarity about which deliveries to capitalise on. Her Siliguri-based former coach, Gopal Saha, highlighted a conversation following a T20 match that transformed her approach to shot selection. "I told her to respect the good deliveries rather than attempting to hit every ball for a six. That conversation changed her mindset, making her more watchful while facing deliveries," said Saha.
The 22-year-old big-hitting wicketkeeper-batter idolises MS Dhoni and has interacted with the legendary cricketer a few times. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly also guides Richa, urging Paul to focus on her fitness levels.
"She is very particular about her diet and has stopped eating chocolates and outside food. Richa’s fitness levels have improved a lot. There’s a specific cook who prepares chicken when she comes for training sessions and avoids rice. Richa’s only indulgence is drinking tea. Being part of the Indian team has been a major game-changer in her fitness journey, providing clarity on the high standards necessary to stay in contention. Richa has faced a lot of struggle over the years, travelling from Siliguri to Kolkata frequently for practice sessions, despite coming from a financially modest family. Her ultimate goal is to play three more World Cups — which is definitely achievable," stated Paul.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
Experts questioned the lack of intent, highlighting it as a major concern in case of a high-pressure face-off against big-hitting sides like Australia during the tournament’s knockouts. In stepped Richa Ghosh just when the Indian team needed a game-changer — during the semifinal against Australia and the final against South Africa — smashing the ball fearlessly on the biggest stage. The 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batter struck 26 off 16 balls in the semifinal, a knock comprising two fours and two sixes, helping the hosts gain a sizeable edge while chasing 339. Richa further stepped up in the final when the team needed big hits following the dismissals of Shafali Verma and Harmanpreet Kaur, scoring 34 off 24 balls, which included three fours and two sixes.
While the Bengal cricketer’s heroics were on full display, what made the feats even more impressive was the pain barrier she pushed through to perform for the national team. Richa battled through a hairline fracture in the middle finger of her left hand, as revealed by Bengal fast-bowling coach Shib Shankar Paul, who has coached her since the age of 13.
"Richa suffered a broken finger but smashed massive sixes despite that, which showcases her willpower. I told her, 'Don't get scared. All pain will go away, but the World Cup cannot get away from our grasp. Come back after winning the tournament.' She responded, 'Yes, I have lost out on an opportunity to win the World Cup in 2022. I have to pull it off this time,’" said Paul in an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com.
Richa scored 235 runs in eight innings at an average of 39.16 during the recently concluded World Cup, with a strike rate of 133.52 — the highest in the tournament. The Bengal cricketer also led the way in hitting sixes, smashing 12 of them. Richa’s high-impact gameplay especially shone through in the group-stage match against eventual finalists South Africa, where she scored 94 off 77 balls in a knock comprising 11 fours and four sixes. This success has been the result of a fearless yet structured training programme, built on immense discipline and dietary control.
"Richa started off as a big-hitting opener, but I told her to bat at number five and finish matches. She bats from morning till evening daily, facing 100–150 balls of each shot with a specific focus on power-hitting. The training sessions are conducted with boys. Richa doesn’t wear a thigh pad even if I ask her to, and she won’t leave the field despite an injury. She once hit a six during practice that shattered a car’s glass. I told the owner, 'Take a picture with her. You can share this incident after Richa helps India win the World Cup,’" said Paul.
Richa’s significant success has also stemmed from improved mental clarity about which deliveries to capitalise on. Her Siliguri-based former coach, Gopal Saha, highlighted a conversation following a T20 match that transformed her approach to shot selection. "I told her to respect the good deliveries rather than attempting to hit every ball for a six. That conversation changed her mindset, making her more watchful while facing deliveries," said Saha.
The 22-year-old big-hitting wicketkeeper-batter idolises MS Dhoni and has interacted with the legendary cricketer a few times. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly also guides Richa, urging Paul to focus on her fitness levels.
"She is very particular about her diet and has stopped eating chocolates and outside food. Richa’s fitness levels have improved a lot. There’s a specific cook who prepares chicken when she comes for training sessions and avoids rice. Richa’s only indulgence is drinking tea. Being part of the Indian team has been a major game-changer in her fitness journey, providing clarity on the high standards necessary to stay in contention. Richa has faced a lot of struggle over the years, travelling from Siliguri to Kolkata frequently for practice sessions, despite coming from a financially modest family. Her ultimate goal is to play three more World Cups — which is definitely achievable," stated Paul.
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