In the 42 T20I innings Richa Ghosh has played, she has faced more than 25 deliveries in an innings only five times. Shockingly, she didn’t face a single ball in the last T20I bilateral series against South Africa. Now, pause for a second. If you have seen her innings against the UAE on July 21, pause for a few seconds longer. This revelation might leave you puzzled.

For anyone who has witnessed this 20-year-old from Siliguri bat for India, it’s hard to accept that she hardly gets to bat for a significant duration in T20Is. Her performance against the UAE highlights her potential and raises questions about her underutilization in the team. It’s a frustration shared by many who see in her the future of Indian women’s cricket, yet find her opportunities to shine so limited.

The incredulity of Richa Ghosh’s stat is heightened further when considering her performance in the last five balls of her innings against the UAE, where she scored the fastest-ever 50-plus score in T20I cricket for an Indian woman. The offside field was heavily packed, and the bowler’s line and length were clear to Richa. It all depended on how she’d manage to thread the gaps in the 25-yard circle.

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In-depth Analysis of Richa Ghosh’s Match Winning Innings

🏏 Richa Ghosh: The Next Evolution in Indian Women's Cricket#Cricket #INDWvsUAEW #Analytics @BCCIWomen #WomensAsiaCup2024 pic.twitter.com/3FY1MVM0lx

— Saiprasad Kagne (@KEVLAR2601) July 22, 2024

On the second delivery of the over, the ball was full and outside off. For Richa, this was easy. She thrives in the V as a batter, and she sent the ball precisely there, collecting a four wide off mid-off. The next delivery was slightly short, requiring her to use her wrists. Richa did more than just guide the ball; she wristily slashed it with power, managing to place it wide of the diving point fielder. Another four! Her ability to read the game and exploit even the smallest gaps showcased her exceptional batting skills, making her innings against the UAE a remarkable display of her talent and potential.

The fifth delivery showcased Richa Ghosh’s growing range spectacularly. She executed a reverse sweep to hit a full ball to deep point for a boundary, stunning the UAE fielders. Richa, beaming with pride, flashed a broad smile, revealing all 32 of her teeth. Why shouldn’t she? She had just completed her first T20I fifty, and India was on the brink of crossing 200 for the first time in their history.

On the very next ball, India achieved that milestone, reaching 201/5 at the end of 20 overs – their highest score in a T20I game. Richa, the wicketkeeper from Siliguri, jogged back to the pavilion, all smiles, seemingly unaware of the magnitude of her own performance. Against the UAE, it was her off-side play that truly stood out. She scored 75% of her runs in that region with such finesse that it never felt like she was muscling the ball. Remarkably, in her innings played at a strike rate of 220.68, she hit just one six! All her other big shots were well-placed fours, underscoring her exceptional skill and precision.

Imagine the impact Richa Ghosh could make if she consistently faced more deliveries. Despite her limited opportunities, she has already established herself as the best wicketkeeper-batter India has ever had. It’s not just her keeping skills but the manner of her stroke play and the continuous improvements in her batting that make her stand out in a lineup filled with flamboyant batters like Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Harmanpreet Kaur.

At just 20 years old, Richa has proven that she represents the next step in the evolution of batting in Indian women’s cricket. Her ability to adapt and innovate, as shown in her recent performances, highlights her immense potential and the significant impact she could have on the game if given more chances to shine.

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