While she is radiating joy in the afterglow of India’s World Cup win as a senior and captain who shepherded the current bunch of World Cup winners, Jhulan Goswami recalled how her own love for the sport started.
Speaking to JioHotstar, Jhulan recalled the first men’s World Cup in coloured clothing and under lights and a white ball. “My career began with pure love for the game. I was a sporty girl, who preferred playing over school. Watching the 1992 World Cup with white balls and colored clothing got my entire neighborhood talking about cricket, and I knew I wanted to play. Sports brought me absolute joy and I never overthought things, just enjoyed each moment,” the much-adored former player recalled.
However it needed a very strong, sustained push from BCCI to raise performance levels, she reckoned. “What Jemimah Rodrigues and her teammates achieved in the World Cup final was truly deserved through their hard work. Since the 2002 World Cup, women’s cricket has transformed completely thanks to BCCI and Jay Shah sir’s initiatives like equal pay, WPL, better domestic structure, stable coaching staff, and access to National Cricket Academy. These systematic changes ultimately helped our girls become world champions,” Jhulan said.
She recalled how Jemimah always wanted to perform well against Australia, then the best in the world. “Jemimah has been a gem from the very beginning. She was never just a junior player, but always someone very special. She took responsibility from the start and always batted with a statement-making approach, especially against Australia. Her incredible improvement and commitment have been remarkable. As a Captain or Coach, having Jemimah in the dressing room is always a pleasure because she’s fully committed and gives everything for the team. She is truly an absolute team player,” Jhulan gushed.
Jhulan generously praised the impact of the Women’s Premier League and how it had upskilled the Indian cricketers by being in the same dressing room as the established powers who had won World Cups before.
“WPL has brought tremendous benefits to our players through exposure to quality cricketers and professional dressing rooms. Our girls learn game reading, mental clarity, and defined roles from international stars. The tournament has produced many quality cricketers who have seamlessly transitioned into the Indian team. Playing in front of 30,000-35,000 crowds helps them handle pressure situations better in big matches. Unlike our generation, these girls now know how to react in high-pressure finals. The financial support and belief from WPL has transformed domestic cricket, and players like Jemimah now share these valuable experiences with younger teammates during team travels,” she told JioHotstar.
