Exclusive: "Women's Cricket has its Own Identity Now," says Jhulan Goswami

Jhulan Goswami will have a stand named after her at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Cricket Association of Bengal has decided to rename the B block as a tribute to the former India fast bowler, still the top wicket-taker in WODIs with 255 scalps.

Eden Gardens to Honour Jhulan Goswami with Renamed Stand

The stand will be inaugurated on January 22 during the first T20I between India and England. "It is a big honour. I want to thank the officials, office-bearers and the members who took the decision. As a young kid, I always wanted to play at the Eden Gardens, make memories and cherish them later in life. You don't think about such things, like a stand named after you, when starting your career. I am touched," Goswami told Sportsboom.com on Wednesday.

The speedster with 355 international wickets across formats underlined why Eden is special. "The memories of playing international and domestic matches at this ground while growing up. There are too many. In 1997, I saw the first Women's World Cup final [between Australia and New Zealand] at Eden, then I played in 2005. Plus, so many training sessions at Eden. You live with these memories," said the 41-year-old who retired in 2022 at the Lord's Cricket Ground in London after appearing in 204 WODIs, 68 WT20Is and 12 WTests for India.

Goswami was part of India's maiden ODI World Cup final appearance in 2005 in South Africa. She had finished with 13 wickets in eight matches in that edition. The right-arm seamer was fortunate to have peaked at the right time, when the Women's Cricket Association of India merged with the Board of Control for Cricket in India for smoother operations in 2006.

Goswami Reflects on Eden Memories and Women’s Cricket Growth

Women's cricket has taken giant leaps since. At present, Indian women are competing in The Hundred and The Caribbean Premier League. The Women's Premier League, started in 2023 by the BCCI, has been successful too. "It has grown worldwide and in India. The amount of quality cricket we see these days is a result of that. Earlier, Women's cricket ran separately, and the ICC was different. After the merger with ICC in 2005, and with the BCCI in 2006, things started getting better regarding financial support, matches and facilities.

"There was boom after the 2017 ODI World Cup [where India finished runners-up], and now, the WPL has taken another step forward," said Goswami, who received the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in 2012.

The veteran thanked all the players, coaches, ground staff, associations, and stakeholders for constantly lifting women's cricket. "It has been a journey. Women's cricket has its own identity now. Everybody has contributed to the growth directly or indirectly," added Goswami, who is still associated with the sport as the bowling coach and mentor of Mumbai Indians' women's team.

The senior Indian women's team is currently sharpening their skills for the three-match ODI series in Australia, which will start December 5 under the lights at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane. Goswami has only one message for the girls. "Go there, enjoy your cricket, play your natural game and believe in yourself."

Among other women cricketers in India, Anjum Chopra has two gates named after her at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The pavilion of the Gumma cricket stadium in Himachal Pradesh (Shimla) is named after Sushma Verma.