In a moment that beautifully ties together pride, responsibility, and recognition, 22-year-old Richa Ghosh, India’s World Cup-winning wicket-keeper batter, has been appointed as the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the Bengal Police.
The announcement, made by the state government on Saturday, celebrates not just an individual landmark but a defining chapter in Indian women’s cricket, which reached glorious heights when Harmanpreet Kaur’s side lifted India’s maiden ICC senior women’s title at home last week.
The Eden Gardens glittered in celebration later that evening as the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) honoured Richa with a golden bat and ball. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee presented her with the Banga Bhushan medal, a gold chain, and the official DSP appointment letter. The CAB also gifted her a cheque of Rs 34 lakh, Rs 1 lakh for every run she scored in the World Cup final, commemorating not just her performance but her embodiment of Bengal’s sporting spirit.
Richa’s appointment followed an afternoon visit to the police headquarters in Kolkata, where she met top officials of the Bengal Police to finalise her posting. She now joins a rare club of Indian cricketers who have served the nation both on and off the field, alongside teammates and peers Deepti Sharma (UP Police), Harmanpreet Kaur (Punjab Police), Mohammed Siraj (Telangana Police), and Joginder Sharma (Haryana Police).
Her selection as a key finisher in India’s triumphant World Cup campaign was no coincidence. Across eight innings in the 13th ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2, 2025, Richa smashed 235 runs at a strike rate of 133.52 and an average of 39.16, including a crucial half-century. In the final at DY Patil Stadium, where India defeated Laura Wolvaardt’s South Africa by 52 runs, Richa’s rapid 34 off 24 balls pushed the team close to the 300-run mark, a thrust that tilted momentum strongly in India’s favour.
Her efforts complement a solid ODI record since debuting against Australia at Mackay in September 2021. In 51 matches since, she has amassed 1,145 runs at a strike rate of 103.90 and an average of 29.35, with seven half-centuries reflecting her consistency amid high-pressure scenarios.
CAB president Sourav Ganguly, sharing the felicitation dais, praised her attacking mindset and situational awareness. “I used to open the innings, but I know how difficult is the role of No. 6 and No. 7 batters in white-ball cricket. You get a minimum of balls to get maximum runs. Richa’s strike made the difference for India’s campaign in this World Cup,” said Ganguly, underlining her impact from the lower middle order that so often defines modern white-ball contests.
For Jhulan Goswami, who once captained India and mentored Bengal’s emerging talents, the moment carried deep personal pride. “It was 2013 when Bengal cricket was not doing well. So, I requested CAB officials to start a talent hunt programme. As they gracefully agreed, I had the opportunity to move to the districts, and that was how I first saw Richa,” Jhulan recalled, her voice heavy with emotion as she narrated the journey of the young girl who rose through the ranks to become Bengal’s first ICC World Cup winner.
Richa now carries another responsibility, one that steps beyond the cricket field. Her new role as a law enforcement officer lends symbolic strength to a generation of athletes who intertwine sportsmanship with service. The story of a young sensation from Siliguri, who once dreamt of donning the India jersey, now finds a new expression in the khaki of Bengal Police, an identity earned through grit, belief, and the unyielding spirit of women’s cricket in India.
(Quotes sourced from Times of India).
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.