Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur wants her great teammate Jhulan Goswami to go on a winning note via the three-match ODI series against the hosts, with the final one-dayer scheduled at Lord’s on September 24.
Goswami was the Indian captain herself when Harmanpreet kicked off her international career back in 2009. Now Harmanpreet is at the other end of the road, and her former captain is approaching her sunset as a cricketer at the top-level game.
The 39-year-old quick is set to retire from international cricket as the leading woman wicket-taker with 352 scalps across formats for India. Goswami most recently turned up for the country against New Zealand in March at the culmination of the league stage of the 50-over World Cup.
She missed the semifinal versus South Africa due to a side strain and couldn’t take part in what was supposed to be her comeback assignment in Sri Lanka in July because of fitness issues. Back after rehab, Goswami will play her last assignment in the Indian jersey against England and put to end her illustrious 19-year-long career.
“When I debuted, she was the captain and it is a great opportunity for me to lead the last ODI she plays. Her approach to the team and [wanting to] do well in every game is something nobody can beat,”
Harmanpreet was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
“When I entered the team, she was leading from the front and I have learnt from her. Nobody can fill her place. She used to work hard in her early days and today also, I have not seen her change in the way she trains during practice sessions.”
Harmanpreet stressed on how much of an inspirational figure Goswami has been for the entire Indian team, not just her, stating it has been a pleasure to play alongside such a legend and be able to soak in her traits from close quarters.
“She bowls two-three hours, which hardly a few do. She is a great example for all of us. There are many who have started playing looking at her. Even I looked at how she prepares before games and how her mindset before a match is and learnt from her. I am lucky to have seen her, worked closely and spent time with her.”
Goswami is hailed as the pioneer of Indian women’s fast bowling, a figure whose presence and guidance has helped India attain unprecedented depth in their pace bowling group. It is understood that the pacer wanted to hang her boots at the World Cup only, but was dissuaded from it by the team management and BCCI, who wanted to provide her a “proper farewell” since she couldn’t say “goodbye on the field” versus South Africa in Christchurch.
At the same time, the coach Ramesh Powar-led think-tank had told Goswami that they are planning to move ahead and develop a young group of fast bowlers who would serve the team across formats. Goswami last played a T20I in 2018 and featured in her final Test match in 2021.
Even at her twilight, though, Goswami has been leading the pack astutely for India. Since the end of the 2017 World Cup, she has taken 57 wickets in her 37 ODIs with an average of 22.08 and economy rate of 3.93. At the 2022 World Cup, she bagged seven wickets from her six matches at 4.36 runs an over.
