There is a certain inevitability about Richa Ghosh when she walks in during the death overs. The script may change, the venue may change, but the outcome often feels familiar, controlled chaos, clean striking, and a scoreboard that suddenly looks intimidating.
On Sunday evening in Thiruvananthapuram, Richa produced yet another reminder of why she is fast becoming indispensable to India’s T20 setup. Sent up the order at No. 3 after Shafali Verma’s dismissal in the 16th over, Richa had absolute clarity about her role. “Whenever I get a chance, especially when the captain sends me up, my motto is very clear, score as much as I can for the team and try to finish the game,” she said in the post-match press conference. That intent was evident from her very first few deliveries.
Her unbeaten 40 off just 16 balls was a study in modern finishing. The batting conditions aided strokeplay, but it was Richa’s awareness that made the difference. “The ball was coming on nicely. When the bowlers bowled slower balls, there was a bit of hold, so shot selection became very important,” she explained. She judged lengths early, stayed strong through the line, aimed for the straighter boundaries and punished anything even marginally in her arc. The strike rate, a staggering 250, reflected not just power, but purpose.
The partnership with Harmanpreet Kaur proved decisive. Together, they added 53 runs in just 23 balls at a run rate of 13.82, the second-highest for an Indian 50-plus stand in women’s T20Is. Richa assumed the aggressor’s role almost immediately, allowing Harmanpreet the freedom to play with composure at the other end.
Sri Lanka gave a lifeline when a straightforward catch went down in the deep, a moment Richa would ruthlessly exploit. What followed was an exhibition of clean ball-striking, including back-to-back sixes and a massive shot down the ground that effectively sealed the contest. India eventually won by 30 runs, and while the margin suggested comfort, it was Richa’s late assault that ensured Sri Lanka were never truly in the chase.
Yet, even on a night of batting excellence, the fielding told a different story. A missed stumping and dropped catches stood out, something Richa candidly acknowledged. “Somewhere it felt like we were having an off day in the field… one day everyone might be off. It’s a bad day, but that’s part of the game,” she said, adding that the team’s overall fielding standards have improved over recent matches.
As India continue to build confidence after their World Cup triumph, Richa’s role is becoming increasingly defined. Her finishing is now a near-guarantee; refining her wicketkeeping remains the next step. But on current form, when the pressure is highest and overs are few, Richa Ghosh looks every bit India’s difference-maker.
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