Jhulan Goswami delivers her fascinating story at CCI

Jhulan Goswami at the Cricket Club of India yesterday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Jhulan Goswami, ex-right-arm medium fast bowler and batter, stalwart of the Indian women's cricket team, drew a full house at the CK Nayudu Banquet Hall, Cricket Club of India on Tuesday evening. Goswami spoke at the Dilip Sardesai Memorial Lecture at the Churchgate club.

Shishir Hattangadi, the former Mumbai captain, anchored what was a peppy conversation, a mix of the personal and professional with Goswami, freewheeling style, rather than a ‘lecture.' Hattangadi called Goswami's journey, "from street lights to floodlights" capturing the spirit of the interaction.

The audience was informed that a biopic is being made on Goswami's life, called Chakda 'Xpress starring Anushka Sharma. Goswami, is nicknamed Chakda Express because of her speed and the fact that she hails from Chakdaha, Nadia district, in West Bengal.

A big Maradona fan

Goswami, 40, talked about beginnings: "I was a big fan of footballer Diego Maradona. I used to play cricket the whole day, even missing school, to the despair of my family. I used to have notes on how to play cricket in the middle of my books."

The bowler spoke about early days and turning up to play, "dressed in a skirt or salwar suit. The coach used to think who is this lanky, village girl? He started looking at my high-arm bowling action and saw some potential." Goswami is 5 ft, 11 inches tall.

Goswami's life oscillated between passion to play, and academic pressure. She explained, "I was irregular at practice. The defining moment came when the coach paid a surprise visit to my home and told my family: give me two years. If she does not represent Bengal in the U-19 [level], then she need not give so much time to cricket." That was when Goswami became regular, always on time for practice and last to leave. She played for Bengal and finally for India within five years.

Also Read: Jhulan Goswami to be conferred Legendary Cricketer award by Cricket Association of Bengal

Mom's inspirational words

Goswami, who retired as player this year and is now a mentor, said when she won ICC Women's Player of the Year in 2007, her mother reminded her, "this is for yourself, now do something for women's cricket."

Through the conversation, Goswami's generosity of spirit came shining through. One also got a glimpse of her determination. When Hattangadi asked her about "big city bullies" in the dressing room, she said: "That never bothered me, I knew what I was there for and my role in the team." In response to a question on captaincy, she said, "I did not enjoy captaincy too much. I am a very straightforward person. I was there to represent my country, not myself."

As mentor in the dressing room she said, "I always said to youngsters - go and enjoy playing. Winning and losing is our responsibility. I told them if anybody says anything, point the finger towards us." That earned her much applause and the sun shone brighter than ever near the end of an event spiked with humour and life lessons in equal measure. "The next year should be a very exciting year for women's cricket. We have the women's IPL, and this will certainly make our domestic circuit extremely robust. One may not get every single thing in life. We missed the World Cup in 2017, but if the girls go ahead and win it one day, I will be the happiest," finished a young woman who gave us a story that spoke eloquently about the power of perseverance, passion and stirring pride in playing for the country.