A new chapter of Indian women’s cricket history is unfolding in the hills of Darjeeling, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced plans to build a cricket stadium named after India’s World Cup hero, Richa Ghosh.
The 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Siliguri, who played a vital role in India’s maiden ICC Women’s ODI World Cup triumph earlier this month, continues to be celebrated across Bengal, both as a rising sporting icon and as a symbol of aspiration for young athletes across the country.
Led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur and head coach Amol Muzumdar, India lifted their first-ever senior ICC title in women’s cricket, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final of the 13th edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, held from September 30 to November 2, 2025. The final at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai capped off a dream campaign, with Richa Ghosh contributing a vital 34 off 24 balls to help India push the total closer to the 300-run mark in the title decider.
Through eight innings in the tournament, Richa’s performances were marked by her reliability and aggression, scoring 235 runs at a strike rate of 133.52 and an average of 39.16, including a half-century and a game-turning 94-run innings in the group stage against South Africa when India were reeling at 102 for six. That innings not only stabilised India’s campaign but also underscored her growing stature as one of India’s most dependable finishers.
Honouring this achievement, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a landmark announcement during a felicitation event in Kolkata. “Richa became a world champion at just 22. On behalf of the West Bengal government, we honoured her, but I want to do more,” she said. “There’s about 27 acres of land in Darjeeling, and I’ve asked the mayor to plan a cricket stadium there. It should be named the Richa Cricket Stadium so that people remember her performance in the future and are inspired by it.”
The move would make Richa the first female cricketer in India to have a full stadium named after her, a symbolic stride for women’s sport in the country. While Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami have stands named after them at Visakhapatnam’s ACA-VDCA Stadium and Eden Gardens, respectively, a dedicated stadium would mark an unprecedented level of recognition.
Following India’s historic win on November 2, Richa was given a hero’s welcome on her return to Siliguri. Joined by thousands of supporters and students, she was felicitated by the state government and the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), led by President Sourav Ganguly, who presented her with a gold-plated bat and ball signed by himself and Jhulan Goswami. Ganguly praised Richa’s composure behind the stumps and her fearless stroke play, calling her “a future India captain.”
In the same ceremony, the West Bengal government conferred upon her the prestigious Banga Bhushan award, alongside a gold chain, and officially appointed her as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the Bengal Police, a testament to her growing influence beyond the cricket field.
Since making her ODI debut on September 21, 2021, against Australia at Mackay, Richa has featured in 51 matches, scoring 1,145 runs at an average of 29.35 and a strike rate of 103.90, with seven half-centuries to her name. Her athletic wicketkeeping and decisive batting under pressure have already earned her a spot among the most promising young cricketers in the world.
As the plans for the Richa Cricket Stadium in Darjeeling begin to take shape, the moment feels larger than one player’s triumph. It reflects the arrival of a new era, one where women’s cricket heroes are celebrated not only with trophies and titles but with enduring landmarks that inspire generations.
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