The Chakdaha Express halts after 20 years

By Anish Pathiyil

On the evening of 24 September 2022, at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, during the 35th over of the second innings, an emotional fervour swept across the entire stadium. Babul, as she is fondly called, ran in to bowl the last over of her spell. The first ball landed on a good length, in line with the stump, and was defended to mid-on. The second, a trademark inswinger castled the leg-stump of Kate Cross, as she attempted a hoick across the line. The Indian women hustled to the bowler's end, at the sound of the timber rattling, as the Chakdaha Express, with a beaming smile, raised her arms up in the air in celebration.

Jhulan Goswami, or Jhulu Di as she is lovingly called by the current generation of cricketers, brought her stellar career to an end with figures of 2-30 as she helped India whitewash the ODI series 3-0. After 20 years, playing at the highest level of the game, she bid adieu as an icon of the Women’s game. Her 255 ODI wickets makes her the highest wicket taker and her 10,000 odd deliveries bowled is the most ever by a bowler in WODIs. Jhulan began her tryst with cricket after watching the 1992 cricket world cup on television. She shifted to Kolkata to pursue her cricketing ambitions under the tutelage of Swapan Sadhu and was selected to the Bengal Women’s team quite early. She made her international debut in an ODI vs England at Chennai when she was just 19. She also made her test debut the same year vs England in Lucknow. Her half century as a nightwatchman in the first test at Leicester in the 2006-07 English summer, along with match figures of 10-78 at Taunton in the second test propelled India to their first test series win versus England.

Jhulan bagged the ICC Women’s cricketer of the year award in 2007 for her stellar contributions. She was named captain of the women’s team from 2008 to 2011 during which she led the team for 25 ODIs. She overtook Cathryn Fitzpatrick’s tally of 180 to become the highest ODI wicket taker in history, against South Africa in May 2017. She has since added 75 more wickets to steer clear in the race to become the highest wicket taker in the Women’s ODI game. She has also taken 44 test wickets in 12 games as well as 56 wickets in 68 T20Is. Her contributions lower down the order with the bat have come in handy on multiple instances.

The contribution of Jhulan Goswami to the country was recognized through the awarding of the prestigious Arjuna award in 2010 as well as a Padma Shri in 2012. Her contribution to the game of cricket goes far beyond the accomplishments on the field. The cricket fraternity eagerly awaits her contributions in harnessing the ever growing talent of young women cricketers in the country.