New Delhi, Nov 4 (NationPress) India’s wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who showcased exceptional skills during the Women’s World Cup victory, stated that her primary role was to swiftly accumulate runs in the final overs of the innings.

Despite narrowly missing her first international century in the World Cup, Richa expressed that her strategy was focused on ensuring the scoreboard remained active.

“Prior to the World Cup, I concentrated on spending more time at the crease and developing my innings. Whenever I had the opportunity to bat, I focused on playing grounded shots to avoid wasting my wicket. For me, it was all about consistently adding runs with singles while anchoring the innings. That was my main area of development,” Richa articulated during an interview on JioStar’s ‘Follow The Blues’.

“My primary responsibility was to conclude innings emphatically by scoring rapidly in the last overs. Every time I batted, I aimed to apply the finishing touches. I aimed for a high strike-rate to put pressure on the opposition bowlers. Accumulating those additional runs alleviates pressure on our team and enhances our chances of victory,” she elaborated.

The 22-year-old player delivered several impactful performances for the home team during their campaign. Notably, her explosive innings of 94 runs off 77 balls, featuring 11 fours and four sixes, was remarkable under pressure against South Africa in the league stage.

“My approach is straightforward. Whenever I step onto the field, if the ball is in my area, I go for my shots. Striking a boundary or a six in a tense situation alleviates a lot of pressure. If I face a good delivery, I am content to take a single and focus on the next ball. This is the strategy I adhere to.”

Discussing how the head coach Amol Muzumdar played a vital role in her performance, she stated, “Amol sir made everyone’s roles within the team very clear. For me, the directive was simple: play fearless cricket, seek out big shots, and finish innings strongly. He also reassured me that it was acceptable to take a moment to settle in. His trust in my ability to execute big hits under pressure was immensely beneficial.”

Richa acknowledged the legendary pacer Jhulan Goswami for her unwavering support throughout her career, saying, “Jhulan didi has significantly influenced my journey. She was my captain during my domestic debut for Bengal. She has consistently guided me, even as I began playing for India. She taught me how to adapt my game to various situations and provided invaluable advice for my growth as a player. I am sincerely thankful for her support.”

Reflecting on the team’s supportive environment, the middle-order batter remarked, “Honestly, our dressing room vibe was fantastic from the outset. Even in challenging times, we never felt alone because we always supported one another. That support system was our greatest strength. When we finally clinched the title, the feeling was indescribable, entirely unique, and utterly unforgettable.”

On the backstory of the team’s victory song, she shared, “We actually composed our team song a few series back. It was something we genuinely desired. However, we made a pact to only sing it and reveal it to the public after we secured the World Cup trophy. Each player contributed to it in some manner. Thus, upon winning at the DY Patil Stadium, we knew we had to sing it right there on the field. It was a magical experience.”

After making history with a 52-run victory over South Africa in the final, Richa mentioned that she and her teammates were unsure how to celebrate the title win.

“As those final South African wickets fell, and Harman didi (Captain Harmanpreet Kaur) caught that last ball, we all scattered in different directions. We were so overwhelmed that we didn’t even know how to celebrate! Harman didi was completely speechless, just filled with joy. And when Deepti didi took the last wicket, even she couldn’t comprehend that we had actually won the World Cup. We were all just savoring that moment, absorbing it all before it truly sunk in.”