By Trisha Ghosal in Vizag
After a heartbreaking finish to a pulsating contest in Vizag, India’s bid for a third straight win was halted by South Africa’s spirited chase. Richa Ghosh’s sparkling 94 had lifted India from 102/6 to 251, but Nadine de Klerk’s late fireworks turned the game on its head. Calm yet composed in defeat, Richa fronted up in the post-match press conference, reflecting on her knock, her evolving role, and India’s resilience.
“We Had to Build a Partnership”
Asked about her approach when she walked in with India in deep trouble, Richa said she knew the situation demanded calmness. “When I went to bat today, wickets were already down, so I had to build a partnership. Amanjot (Kaur) and I discussed how to take the innings long and how to rotate the strike. We were focused on that, and we managed to take it long,” she said. Her ability to shift gears stood out as India turned a collapse into a competitive total, with Richa smashing 11 fours and 4 sixes in her counterattacking innings.
“Credit to Their Batters — They Played Good Shots”
India’s bowling, which had been disciplined through the middle overs, faltered at the death as South Africa accelerated. Richa admitted the opponents batted smartly. “We tried to execute our plans with the pacers, but credit to their batters, they played very good shots. The way they hit, they deserved those runs,” she said.
“I Haven’t Cut Anything From My Game”
On whether her evolving role from top-order to finisher required changes, Richa was clear about sticking to her natural instincts. “I don’t think I’ve cut anything from my game. If I get the ball in my zone, I’ll hit it; if not, I’ll rotate the strike. I trusted my teammates and played according to the situation,” she noted.
“We’ll Carry Forward the Positives”
Looking ahead to a crucial stretch of matches against Australia, England, and New Zealand, Richa stressed the need for perspective.
“We’ll discuss what went well and where we went wrong. One game doesn’t decide our future. We’ll plan in practice and carry forward the positives,” she concluded.
Follow Revsportz for latest sports news