As the Indian women’s cricket team celebrates a landmark T20I series triumph against England in their own backyard, all eyes are also on the dynamic wicket-keeper batter from Siliguri, Richa Ghosh.
At just 21 years of age, Richa Ghosh has an extraordinary achievement: she joins the elite club of Indian batters with 2,000 international runs. Her journey, marked by audacious strokeplay, steely nerves behind the stumps, and a never-say-die spirit, has inspired a generation dreaming beyond boundaries.
Richa debuted internationally as a teenager at the age of 16, making her first appearance for India in a high-pressure T20I against Australia on February 12, 2020, at Melbourne. In the years since, she has redefined what it means to be a modern wicket-keeper batter and a finisher.
In 56 T20I innings, Richa has amassed 1,067 runs at an impressive strike rate of 142.45 and an average of 27.35, underlining her ability to score quickly and consistently. While she already has two half-centuries to her name in the format, her most memorable performance came during the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 in Dambulla, where she played a breathtaking unbeaten knock of 64 off just 29 balls against the UAE on July 21, 2024.
That innings, which earned her the Player of the Match award, showcased her fearless approach and her knack for delivering in crucial moments. With her explosive finishing skills and infectious energy, Richa has become an indispensable part of India’s T20I setup, capable of changing the course of a match in a matter of overs. In the ongoing 5-match T20I series against England, she has scored 82 runs at a strike rate of 146.42 and an average of 27.33 in five innings with the bat for India in the series.
Richa’s transition to the ODI format on 21st September 2021 at Mackay against Australia was seamless. Unlike many who struggle to find their tempo in longer formats, she has displayed maturity and adaptability beyond her age.
In her 35 ODI innings so far, she has accumulated 800 runs, maintaining a healthy strike rate of 96.38 and an average of 28.57, remarkable figures for a young wicket-keeper batter. Richa has already notched up six half-centuries in this format, consistently stepping up for her side in challenging situations. Her standout performance came at the Wankhede Stadium on December 30, 2023, when she crafted a brilliant 96 off 117 balls against Australia, an innings laced with 13 boundaries.
That knock not only showcased her ability to build an innings under pressure but also highlighted her maturity and composure at the crease. With each outing, Richa continues to reinforce her reputation as India’s dependable finisher in ODIs, blending aggression with responsibility to anchor the side’s middle order.
Richa’s Test career may be in its initial stages, but her performances already shimmer with promise. She made her Test debut against Australia at the Wankhede on 21st December 2023 and has since impressed in the white flannels.
In just three innings so far, Richa has scored 151 runs at an impressive average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 66.81, demonstrating her adaptability and temperament in red-ball cricket. She has already registered two half-centuries, quickly establishing herself as a reliable contributor in the format. Her standout performance came against South Africa in Chennai on June 28, 2024, where she played a composed and confident knock of 86 runs off 90 balls in the first innings. That innings not only highlighted her ability to handle pressure and adapt to challenging conditions but also underscored her potential to become a mainstay in India’s Test batting lineup.
India’s historic T20I series victory in England under Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership has rightly hogged the headlines, but Richa’s individual journey adds another captivating subplot to this summer of cricket. She completed the 2,000 International run landmark in style with a boundary in the 15th over bowled by Issy Wong in the 5th and final game of the T20I series at Edgbaston, Birmingham, to get to a milestone that etches her name alongside legends, all before turning 22. She chipped in with a handy cameo 24 (16 balls) with a sensational strike rate of 150. Her knock included three boundaries.
As India gears up for the remainder of the white-ball series against England, the anticipation grows, and it will be exciting to see what she brings to the table in the upcoming three-match ODI series against England from 16th July 2025. The numbers tell their story, but it’s Richa’s infectious enthusiasm, fearless intent, and unwavering focus that truly inspire. At 21, she embodies the future of Indian cricket, undaunted, unafraid, and unmissable.
