Jhulan Goswami will be playing her last international match on September 24 when the Indian women’s cricket team takes on England in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) at Lord’s. Her team-mates want to make the moment memorable for their beloved ‘ Jhulu di’.
“Having her in the side gives you a lot of support and balance in the side. This will be her last tournament and this will be special for her and for us as well,” India captain Harmanpreet Kaur said on Tuesday, ahead of the team’s departure to the United Kingdom.
When Harmanpreet made her debut for the Indian team in 2009, Jhulan was the team’s captain. “It is a great opportunity for me to be leading the team when she will be playing her last ODI. We will try to create some great moments for her, so that we can go back with some good memories and can remember the match. We are trying to make her feel very special. It’s been a great opportunity for all of us to have played with her and we have a lot of good memories,” Harmanpreet added.
Having played with Jhulan for more than 13 years, Harmanpreet admits that it was difficult to replace a player of Jhulan’s calibre. “Her approach towards the team is unbeatable. She always wants to go out there and do well for the team. When I made it to the team, she was the one who was leading the team, so I have learnt a lot from her. Nobody can fill her place,” Harmanpreet said.
“She still puts in the hard work as she would in her early days. I have never seen her taking things easy in terms of practice or effort. She goes out and bowls for about two to three hours during practice. You hardly see anyone doing that these days, but that’s the passion she has for the game. As a cricketer and a person, I have learnt a lot from her and she is a great example for all of us,” said the India captain.
An inspiration
Sportstar had earlier reported about Goswami having a discussion with the national selectors ahead of the team selection for the England tour, where the selectors discussed a roadmap for the future. The 39-year-old Goswami last played international cricket in March during the Women’s ODI World Cup.
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And talking about her contribution to Indian cricket, Harmanpreet admitted that a lot of girls took up the sport after drawing inspiration from Goswami. “When I was playing, I would watch her and admire how she has the mindset ahead of a match and how she prepares. I am lucky to have known and spent so much time with a cricketer like her. She has been that senior who always inspired us…”
While the Indian team wants to put up a tough fight against England, there still remains a doubt on whether Jemimah Rodrigues, who suffered an injury during the Hundred, will be available from the beginning of the tour. The India captain ducked the issue, saying: “The physio and support staff can only talk about that. I don’t have a fair idea, maybe later on, we can give you an update…”
After finishing second in the Commonwealth Games, the tour of England will be a challenge for the Indian team, but the players want to give a memorable farewell to Goswami.
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