The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on the 19th of August, when named India’s squad for their ongoing series against England got the legend, Jhulan Goswami, back in after missing on the Sri Lanka series, but it soon was learned that this is her farewell series and since then has had tributes pouring in.
At 39, Jhulan Goswami still is strong and fit as ever before and during India’s 1st of the 3-match ODI series at Hove put on an outstanding bowling display. India having won the toss, opt to ball first and Jhulan Goswami upfront lead India’s attack and early in the innings bowled a fine off-cutter to dismiss Tammy Beaumont on 7. Jhulan Goswami having bowled 42 dots and not conceded a single boundary or maximum, went on to finish her 10 overs for only 20 runs.
India with the bat put on a confident run chase that was led by Smriti Mandhana with her 91(99) and post India’s 7-wicket win, said, “I want to say that this series is for Jhulu di (Jhulan Goswami), her bowling was amazing. All our efforts in this series will be for Jhulu di.”
Men in Blue captain Rohit Sharma gave a fitting tribute to retiring cricketer Jhulan Goswami during a press conference😍#CricketTwitter #RohitSharma𓃵 #JhulanGoswami pic.twitter.com/ENuLgXbe2w
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) September 18, 2022
It just doesn’t end there, English pacer, Kate Cross, ahead of the opening ODI called Jhulan Goswami the face of Indian cricket in stating, “For me, Jhulan Goswami is the face of Indian cricket. She has created something for India. It will be nice for her to bow out at the Lord’s if she decides to.”
India men’s team captain, Rohit Sharma, in his recent presser ahead of the men’s side’s upcoming 3-match T20I series against Australia on home soil, said “Jhulan Goswami is a legend. She has shown lots of passion for the country. She is an inspiration for all the youngsters in the country, her inswingers have challenged me as well at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).”
It also wasn’t long before Jhulan Goswami in the NCA nets, bowling to Indian men’s cricketer, KL Rahul, was making rounds. The 19-year-long career of Jhulan Goswami has seen her breach and create so many records. To name a standout, Jhulan Goswami is the leading wicket-taker in One-Day International with 253 wickets to her name in 201 innings with best figures of 6/31 and a stunningly brilliant average of 3.37.
In Test match cricket, Jhulan has picked up 44 wickets in 12 Test matches (21 innings) with best figures of 5/25 in an innings and 10/78 in a match and in the shortest format, she’s played 68 Twenty20 Internationals (T20I’s) which see her with 56 wickets and the best figures of 5/11. Padma Shri awardee, Jhulan Goswami, during the last game on tour at the Lord’s cricket ground is set to bid farewell to the game closing out an illustrious and decorated international career spanning from 2002-2022.
Jhulan Goswami also has an exciting string of promotions coming up post-retirement as a forthcoming Netflix cricketing film is none other than, Chakda Express that’s inspired by the journey of Jhulan Goswami which sees Bollywood actress, Anushka Sharma, playing the lead in the film.