Legendary Indian pacer Jhulan Goswami will be retiring from ODI cricket at the end of the 3-ODI series against England, the last one – at Lord’s – on September 24, Saturday, bringing down a glorious, iconic, and inspiration 20-year India career.
Goswami will bow out as the highest wicket-taker in women’s internationals, with 352* wickets – 44 in Tests, 252 in ODIs (the highest in the world) and 56 in T20Is – across formats before the start of this 3 ODI series in England. The Bengal pacer has featured in six 50-over World Cups.
The 39-year-old made her India debut way back in 2002 and played a big part along with the former skipper and legendary batter Mithali Raj in revolutionising Indian women’s cricket, inspiring girls from all parts of the country to take up cricket.
Jhulan Goswami’s inswingers has challenged me as well: Rohit Sharma
Indian men’s skipper Rohit Sharma also said special words, hailing the retiring “legend” – Jhulan Goswami.
In the press conference ahead of the T20I series against Australia, Rohit was asked about his thoughts on Goswami. The opener was effusive in praise for the veteran seamer, and even revealed that while training together at the NCA in the past, he was troubled by Goswami’s prominent, sharp inswingers!
“Jhulan Goswami is a legend, she has shown lots of passion for the country, it’s an inspiration and learning for all the youngsters in the country – her inswingers has challenged me as well at NCA,” Rohit said on Sunday from Mohali where India will take on Australia for the first T20I.
Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian women’s team captain, said she wants to give a memorable farewell to Goswami, and her side will look to “create some great moments” in this England series.
“When I debuted, she was the captain and it is a great opportunity for me to lead the last ODI she plays. We will be trying to create some great moments for her so that she can take back good memories from it,” Kaur said ahead of the first ODI vs England in Hove.
Coming back to Rohit, the Indian men’s skipper will resume his preparations for the T20 World Cup with the 3 T20I vs Australia, followed by 3 more vs South Africa.
India Squad for Australia T20Is: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul (vc), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav.
