Born: 1982 (Chakdaha, West Bengal, India)
Biography:
Jhulan Nishit Goswami, born on November 25, 1982, is an Indian former cricketer who made significant contributions to the game during her career spanning from 2002 to 2022. Recognized as one of the greatest bowlers to have played the sport, she was known for her remarkable right-arm medium-fast bowling and her proficient right-handed batting.
Hailing from a middle-class family in the town of Chakdaha in the Nadia district of West Bengal, Goswami discovered her passion for cricket at the age of 15. Initially a football enthusiast, her interest shifted to cricket after she witnessed the 1992 Cricket World Cup on television. Inspired by the performances of Australian batter Belinda Clark in the 1997 Women’s Cricket World Cup, Goswami eagerly took up the sport.
Chakdaha lacked proper cricket facilities at the time, so Goswami traveled to Kolkata to pursue her cricketing aspirations. Following her training in Kolkata, she earned a spot in the Bengal women’s cricket team. Soon after, at the age of 19, she made her international debut in a one-day International Match against England in Chennai, marking the beginning of her illustrious career.
Goswami’s Test debut came on January 14, 2002, against England in Lucknow. She played a crucial role in guiding the Indian Women’s Cricket team to their first Test series win in England during the 2006-07 season, alongside Mithali Raj. In that same season, Goswami played a pivotal role in India’s first-ever victory against England, showcasing her skills by scoring a fifty as a nightwatchman in the first Test at Leicester and delivering outstanding match figures of 10 for 78-5 for 33 and 5 for 45 in the second Test at Taunton.
In 2007, Jhulan Goswami was a member of the Asian squad in the Afro-Asia tournament held in India. Her remarkable performances during the year earned her the prestigious ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award, making her the sole recipient of an individual award among Indian cricketers.
Later in 2008, she took on the captaincy, succeeding Mithali Raj, and held the position until 2011. During her captaincy, she led India in 25 ODIs, showcasing her leadership skills and leading by example on the field. In the same year, she became the fourth woman to reach 100 wickets in ODIs during the Asia Cup.
Goswami’s contributions to women’s cricket did not go unnoticed by the Indian government. In 2010, she was honored with the prestigious Arjuna Award for her outstanding achievements in the sport. In 2012, she became only the second Indian women cricketer to receive the esteemed Padma Shri award, following in the footsteps of Diana Edulji.
Throughout her career, Jhulan Goswami played a total of 204 ODIs before retiring from international cricket in 2022, amassing an impressive tally of 255 wickets. Her remarkable achievements on the field helped secure her place in history as the player with the most wickets in Women’s One Day International cricket.
Jhulan Goswami’s dedication, skill, and unwavering passion for the sport have left an indelible mark on women’s cricket. She continues to inspire future generations of cricketers with her remarkable achievements and remains a true icon of the game.
Awards:
– ICC Women’s Player of the Year award in 2007
– M.A. Chidambaram trophy for Best Women’s Cricketer in 2011
– Arjuna Award in 2010
– Padma Shri in 2012