Former India Women and Bengal fast bowler Jhulan Goswami is all set to get a new stand named after herself at the Eden Gardens prior to the start of the T20I series between India and England earlier next year. Following a proposal from the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), a stand will be named in her honor in the 'B' Block of Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Goswami is the highest wicket-taker in women's ODI cricket. The proposal to introduce a new stand was put forward by the apex body of CAB and it is expected to be in full operation by January 22 when India prepare to take on Australia in a T20I series. 

Here is how Goswami reacted to the news 

The former fast-bowling legend was filled with joy and excitement upon hearing the news. She expressed that she never believed such a development would be made possible in her lifetime. She hopes to visit the stand someday when its ready and looks forward to watching a match from there. 

"I never imagined something like this would come to fruition. I would definitely love to watch a match from there. For any cricketer, the ultimate dream is to represent her district, state, or country, but receiving an honor like this is truly monumental. A dedicated stand is a huge, significant honour, and it's only possible because of the CAB's vision to promote women's cricket. Words can't do justice to this recognition."

Additionally, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and international cricketer Pankaj Roy also have the stands named after them at the Eden Gardens. Besides, are also stands named for two former BCCI presidents, Jagmohan Dalmiya and Biswanath Dutt.

A look into Jhulan Goswami's past record

Jhulan represented India across all three formats and has finished her career with 44 wickets in 12 Tests, a world-record 255 wickets in 204 ODIs, and another 56 dismissals in 68 T20Is. With 355 wickets under her kitty, the Bengal-based bowler now has the most number of wickets in women's internationals. 

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According to team manager and bowling coach Jhulan Goswami, the second day of the Mumbai Indians’ team camp, which got underway on Saturday in preparation for the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL), was jam-packed with hard training and team-building activities.

“No one will be a legend when we reach the ground. It involves concentrating on our activity. We made an attempt to engage with the girls over their effort today, their teamwork on the pitch, and their communication.”

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Jhulan Goswami said that the focus is on work at Mumbai Indians

Together with Jhulan, the coaching staff for Mumbai in the WPL also includes Trupti Chandgadkar Bhattacharya as the team manager, Charlotte Edwards as the head coach, Devieka Palshikaar as the coach for the batting and fielding teams, and Lydia Greenway as the coach for the fielding. Indiawin Sports Pvt. Ltd., a Reliance Industries subsidiary and owner of the five-time IPL champion Mumbai Indians, MI Cape Town in the SA20, and MI Emirates in the ILT20, placed the second-highest offer of INR 912.99 crores to get the rights to run a WPL club.

Along with Jhulan, the coaching staff for Mumbai in the WPL also includes Trupti Chandgadkar Bhattacharya as the team manager, Charlotte Edwards as the head coach, Devieka Palshikaar as the coach for the batting and fielding teams, and Lydia Greenway as the coach for the fielding.

Mumbai Indians 2023 squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (INR 1.8 crore), Nat Sciver-Brunt (INR 3.2 crore), Amelia Kerr (INR 1 crore), Pooja Vastrakar (INR 1.9 crore), Yastika Bhatia (INR 1.5 crore), Heather Graham (INR 30 lakh), Isabelle Wong (INR 30 lakh), Amanjot Kaur (INR 50 lakh), Dhara Gujar (INR 10 lakh), Saika Ishaque (INR 10 lakh), Chloe Tryon (INR 30 lakh), Humaira Kazi (INR 10 lakh), Priyanaka Bala (INR 20 lakh), Sonam Yadav (INR 10 lakh), Neelam Bisht (INR 10 lakh), Jitumoni Kalita (INR 10 lakh).

Playing her last international match on Saturday at the iconic Lord’s, Jhulan Goswami received the guard of honour during India women versus England women third ODI in London.

The incident occurred during the main innings of the match, when the 39-year-old cricketer came out to bat at no. 9 in the 40th over of the match. India, who have an unassailable lead of 2-0, were battling in the last game at 148/7 when the legendary pacer emerged to bat at the tail-end.

Farewell to our ‘Chakdah Express’

Entering the ground to bat, Jhulan found the English team players forming the famous guard of honour lines to remember the cricketer, who has contributed over 20 years of life to international cricket. Goswami lifted her right hand in appreciation to acknowledge the honour by English players, who could be seen clapping together for their opponents. There were loud cheers and applause from the observers as well as the crowd came in numbers to observe what is the last dance of the Indian bowling legend, affectionately known as ‘Chakdah Express’.

Never truly known for her batting skills, Goswami had an anti-climax end to her last innings as she was out for a first-ball duck. She was bowled out by Freya Kemp as the batter played the wrong  line off a full-length delivery.

India were 166/9 in 45.3 overs. Among players, Deepti Sharma was currently at the crease on 68 not out after Smriti Mandhana held the Indian innings along with a half-century while the top-order imploded around her.

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Making her debut in 2002, Goswami contributed over 20 years of her life to the Indian women’ cricket team, which reached three World Cup finals (two ODIs) in what could be rated as the best period throughout the history of the national team. Recently they also won a historic silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Jhulan Goswami, whose name is very much familiar with “fast bowling” in women’s cricket, will play her final game at Lord’s on Saturday. The Indian side will want to make it a special farewell for her by sweeping the English in the ODI series. For a cricket player, playing just one game at Lord’s is the ultimate goal. A hundred runs or a five-for is a different high than saying goodbye to cricket after a successful career at the “Mecca of Cricket,” which is exclusively reserved for a select few.

Although he played his final first-class game there, Sunil Gavaskar was denied the chance. On their final playing day, neither Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, or Glenn McGrath had the chance to descend the stairs of the revered Long Room.

Even Mithali Raj, who worked alongside Goswami for almost 20 years, was unable to leave a cricket pitch.

Call it fate or design, but Goswami’s final celebration is taking place at Lord’s.

A more memorable scene could not have existed as the svelte 5 feet 11 inch woman made her way through the Long Room to the MCC’s “suits,” who would then stand and offer her a “Guard of Honour” before she onto the field with her teammates.

Harmanpreet Kaur and her squad will stop at nothing to ensure it was a suitable departure for one of the “poster ladies” of Indian cricket, even though the series was already secured with an unbeatable 2-0 lead.

India performed admirably against a depleted England team in the two games when they dominated both while pursuing and while setting the target, despite losing the T20I series.

The concern has been Shafali Verma’s inconsistent performance during the tour, even though skipper Harmanpreet has returned to form with innings of 74 not out and 143 not out. This is the biggest benefit for the team.

Harleen Deol has done well to establish herself as a consistent middle-order batter, but the seam attack, which consists of Meghna Singh, Renuka Thakur, and Pooja Vastrakar, will need to step up significantly more in the wake of Goswami’s retirement.

Goswami – her story, then and now

Back in 1999, when Goswami hadn’t even made her international debut, India’s women last defeated England in an ODI series.

So that the cherished “Jhulu Di” of the Indian squad will know that she is a contented soul as she plays in her 204th and final game.

Perhaps an ICC trophy would have looked lovely (she had two chances at that in 2005 and 2017 when India competed in the final), but sometimes certain things are not meant to be.

She might recall a lot of things when she makes her bowling mark for the final time and walks up the Lord’s slope to add to his 353 international wickets .

You can only pay your cap to her for making the transition from the small West Bengal village of Chakdah to being named the “ICC Woman Cricketer of The Year” and carrying the Indian pace attack for 20 years.

Taking the first local train to Kolkata and beginning rituals at North Kolkata’s Shradhananda Park wasn’t an easy journey (a small non-descript ground).

Even after making her debut in India, she continued to ride in an open Van Rickshaw as she returned home from Chakdah station.

Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh had not yet been born when she first represented India, while Jemimah Rodrigues may have still been in diapers.

Harmanpreet was still a cricket-loving Moga girl with dreamy eyes.

Shafali, Jemimah, Richa, and Yastika Bhatia will be her colleagues as she retires, while Harmanpreet will serve as her captain.

And yes, the women’s IPL is going to begin. The majority of the women’s cricket players drive Mercedes, BMWs, and Audis thanks to the amount of money that has been brought in.

She has served as a link between the hardships of living in dormitories and youth hostels with shared bathrooms while travelling in second class and staying at posh five-star hotels with proper central contracts and financial stability.

She continued on her way unabated, passing via the Hooghly and the Thames in the interim.

One such cricketing event that you would want is the delivery to Meg Lanning in the 2017 World Cup semifinal.

One can be certain that there won’t be any lull in India’s passion as she aims for a 3-0 clean sweep following a couple of strong performances.

There won’t be another Jhulan Goswami.

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India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Sabbineni Meghana, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Renuka Thakur, Meghna Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Harleen Deol, Dayalan Hemalatha, Simran Dil Bahadur, Jhulan Goswami, Taniyaa Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues.
England: Amy Jones (c and wk), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Alice Davidson-Richards, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Eclestone, Freya Kemp, Issy Wong and Danni Wyatt.

A confident Indian team will back itself to seal its first series victory in England since 1999 with another win over the hosts in the second women’s ODI in Canterbury on Wednesday. Having endured a woeful 1-2 defeat in the T20I series, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian side raised its standards in all the departments of the game to bounce back in three days’ time and defeat England by seven wickets in the series-opener at Hove on Sunday. England are missing some of their senior players but India looked a much better team in the first game and they would be looking to ride the momentum.

In 1999, the Indian team had won the ODI series 2-1 with Anjum Chopra striking a hundred and a half-century. It is also a farewell series for the great Jhulan Goswami as India do not have any 50-over assignment till June 2023. Playing her first game since March, the 39-year-old world record holder for most wickets showed little signs of rustiness and was the most economical among the lot, returning with figures 10-2-20-1.

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Harmanpreet looking for a win against England at their home ground

Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana led the batting show with a sublime 99-ball 91, while wicketkeeper batter Yastika Bhatia also struck a fifty, before skipper Harmanpreet finished off the clinical chase with an unbeaten 74. The captain will be expecting the middle-order to step up and hope opener does well as she has not scored a half-century in more than 10 innings now.

England on the other hand will hope that their batters put up a big total as they will rely heavily on in-form Sophia Dunkley, who had a successful T20I series. Dunkley and Alice Capsey once again looked dangerous in the middle before a one-handed catch by Harmanpreet broke the partnership and triggered a collapse. If India manage to win the second game, it will be a massive confidence booster for a team trying to find its feet in 50-over cricket.

Star bowler Jhulan Goswami is retiring from international cricket after a 20-year stellar career, and Smriti Mandhana, who helped India women defeat England women in the first ODI, said the visitors are attempting to bid the legendary fast bowler a proper farewell. At the conclusion of the current three-match ODI series, the 39-year-old Goswami will say goodbye to the sport. She has taken 44 wickets in 12 Tests, 253 in 202 ODIs, and 68 in 68 T20 Internationals (56 wickets).

Mandhana, who scored 91 runs off 99 deliveries, spoke after India’s seven-wicket victory on Sunday. Goswami (10-2-20-1) also contributed to India’s victory by limiting England to 227 for 7 with 42 dot balls while being accurately personified.

“I want to say that this series is for Jhulu di (Jhulan Goswani), her bowling was amazing. All our efforts in this series will be for Jhulu di,” ODIs are natural for me, T20s I have to put effort to take care of the strike rate. In ODIs I can just react. But I’m happy to lay the platform.”

She said she would have been happier had she remained unbeaten.

Mandhana, 26, who won player of the match, acknowledged that her natural batting performs better in ODI matches than in T20Is.

She stated that if she had remained unbeaten, she would have been happy. In the 37th over, with India still needing 30 runs to win, Mandhana was the final Indian hitter to be struck out.

”Thanks to the supporters for coming out, happy to put out a show for them, I’m happy that Harman (Harmanpreet Kaur) won the toss. I saw the pitch in the first innings and told myself to cut down on the back-foot play. But didn’t hold back too much.”

Mandhana said.

“I’m happy that Harman (Harmanpreet Kaur) won the toss. I saw the pitch in the first innings and told myself to cut down on the back-foot play. But didn’t hold back too much. All of us showed the character which we discussed in team meetings. It was a crucial toss, the partnership between Jhulan and Meghna was great. Credit to all the bowlers as they chipped through,”

India captain Harmanpreet praised the team for its collective effort.

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“The partnership between Smriti and Yastika was great, we hope to continue the momentum. I want to give it all for the team, happy with the runs and with the stand alongside Smriti.” “She is a very smart cricketer, she was doing exactly what was asked of her.”

Harmanpreet said on Deepti Sharma, who was the most successful Indian bowler with 2/33,

Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of India, praised Jhulan Goswami on Tuesday, adding that “nobody can fill her shoes” due to her unmatched devotion for the game. After the third and final ODI against England at Lord’s on September 24, the 39-year-old, who has amassed the most wickets in international cricket in a career spanning more than two decades, is expected to announce his retirement. On the eve of their departure for their white-ball series in England, Harmanpreet told the media in Bengaluru, “She goes to every game with the same type of passion that is unmatched, nobody can beat it.”

Harmanpreet has many fond memories of the renowned Indian pacer, who has a world record 252 wickets to her name from 201 ODIs and is the only bowler with more than 200 wickets in the format. She made her debut under Jhulan’s captaincy in a match against Pakistan during the 2009 World Cup.

Before leaving for the England series, Indian captain Harmanpreet praised Goswami for her legendary contribution to the game in a press conference. She said:

“She goes to every game with the same kind of passion which is unmatched, nobody can beat that. She’s someone who always puts in the same kind of effort, bowling two-three hours. She still puts in the same kind of hard work she used to during her early days… I’ve never seen her make any changes to her practice regimen. You hardly see any bowler doing like that, or even at the nets while batting. Nobody can match the passion she has for cricket,”

Harmanpreet added

Jhulan last represented India at the ODI World Cup in New Zealand in March of this year. However, he was forced to withdraw from the Sri Lanka trip in July after suffering a side strain just before India’s last group game against South Africa.

Jhulan made her international debut in 2002

In 2018, she retired from T20s, and in October 2021, she played her final test match. Jhulan has participated in 201 ODIs, 12 Tests, 68 T20 Internationals, and six World Cup appearances overall.

India will start their tour with three T20 matches on September 9, fresh off their silver medal-winning performance at the Commonwealth Games Birmingham.

After that, India will play three one-day internationals at Hove (September 18), Canterbury (September 21), and Lord’s (September 24), their first at the revered stadium since losing the 2017 Cricket World Cup final.

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They would try to make it a special event for her, according to Harmanpreet.

“We are talking about it being her last tournament. It would be very special for her and for us. We would try to create some great moments for her so she can go back with some special memories.”

She said

Veteran India seamer Jhulan Goswami is all set to put a stop to a shining international career spanning twenty years on the upcoming tour of England.

The 39-year-old, who was last seen in action in the ODI World Cup recently, confirmed she will resign from international cricket after the third and last ODI against England at Lord’s in September, as per ESPNCricinfo.

Goswami had earlier missed India’s limited overs tour of Sri Lanka because of fitness issues, with the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Women dressed in Blue eventually finishing a 3-0 sweep without her services.

The seamer had made her India debut at 19 years old against England in January, 2002. From that point forward, she’s made 12 Test appearances and also played 201 ODIs and 68 T20Is. She’s at present the best bowler in the women’s down, with 362 international wickets to her name, 252 of which have come in the 50-over format.

Goswami had resigned from the T20I design in August, 2018 and her last Test appearance was against Australia in October last year.

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The BCCI had earlier announced the teams for the T20I and ODI series in England that will happen in September. Explosive batter Kiran Navgire, who has delivered a number of eye-catching exhibitions in domestic cricket along with in the Women’s T20 Challenge, procured a maiden call-up among the notable picks.