The streets of Siliguri changed into a sea of celebration on Friday as hundreds got here out to greet hometown star Richa Ghosh, Bengal’s first-ever World Cup-winning cricketer, after India’s historic triumph on the Girls’s World Cup.
Cheers, drums and chants crammed the air because the 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batter emerged from Bagdogra airport, standing atop an open jeep that made its means by way of the town to Baghajatin Park, the place a grand felicitation awaited.
All the route was festooned with banners, garlands and posters of the brand new champion.
“It was my dream to play for India and to raise the World Cup,” Richa mentioned, waving to followers.
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“We had our eyes on the trophy from the beginning of the match. Even after we misplaced three matches in a row, our perception by no means wavered.” The explosive middle-order batter, daughter of a club-level cricketer-turned-umpire Manabendra Ghosh and homemaker Shampa Ghosh, performed a vital ending function in India’s marketing campaign.
She amassed 235 runs from eight innings at a strike fee of 133.52, the perfect amongst Indians.
Her tally of 12 sixes equalled West Indies power-hitter Deandra Dottin’s document for many sixes in a Girls’s World Cup version.
Batting at No. 7, she struck a blistering 34 off 24 balls within the closing in opposition to South Africa that propelled India to a match-winning complete of their 52-run victory, sealing the primary ever international title by the ladies’s staff.
The second wicketkeeper from Siliguri to make the India aspect after Wriddhiman Saha, Richa now has a full trophy cupboard — the World Cup joins the U-19 World Cup, the Girls’s Premier League title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Asian Video games gold and the Commonwealth Video games silver.
“My dad and mom have the most important function in what I’ve change into. They all the time advised me that when you dream, dream massive,” she mentioned, seated beside her father on the felicitation ceremony. “Now my subsequent purpose is to win the T20 World Cup.” The Siliguri Municipal Company and Sub-Divisional Sports activities Council rolled out a crimson carpet at Baghajatin Park, the place native ladies cricketers gave her a guard of honour, elevating their bats as she walked in.
The occasion was attended by Mayor Gautam Deb, Deputy Mayor Ranjan Sarkar, SJDA Chairman Dilip Dugga, and a number of other different dignitaries.
Richa with Prime Minister Narendra Modi
| Photograph Credit score:
ANI
Richa with Prime Minister Narendra Modi
| Photograph Credit score:
ANI
Richa, who was felicitated by greater than 50 organisations through the day, mentioned the win was a mirrored image of the staff’s unity and perception.
“Each cricketer bonded as a unit, shouldered the challenges aspect by aspect — and the magic second got here,” she mentioned.
The younger star additionally spoke passionately in regards to the altering face of girls’s cricket in India.
“Pay parity and the WPL are huge steps. They’ll encourage extra ladies to take up cricket critically. The WPL provides everybody an opportunity. In case you carry out there, you can also make it to the Indian staff,” Richa mentioned.
Reflecting on the staff’s interplay with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she added, “He advised us that folks will now see Indian cricket in another way — it received’t be referred to as the ladies’s staff anymore. Everybody’s contribution made this win particular.” Regardless of the adulation, Richa hasn’t forgotten her roots.
“We’d like a correct cricket stadium in Siliguri,” she urged. “Higher infrastructure will assist not solely cricket however all sports activities right here.” In accordance with stories, the World Cup winner has been provided a put up within the West Bengal Police, although there was no official announcement by the West Bengal authorities but.
The celebration will proceed on Saturday, when the Cricket Affiliation of Bengal honours her at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Sourav Ganguly and Jhulan Goswami will felicitate her with a gold-plated bat and ball signed by each legends.
Printed on Nov 07, 2025