India's Women's World Cup-winning wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh received a grand felicitation at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee presented her with the prestigious Banga Bhushan award and a gold chain. The 22-year-old cricketer from Siliguri was also given a unique cheque of INR 34 lakh, symbolizing each run she scored during the tournament. Additionally, she received a gold-plated bat and ball. Richa was appointed as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the state's law enforcement. Former Indian captains Sourav Ganguly and Jhulan Goswami attended the event. Around 50 young female cricketers wearing Richa's No. 13 jersey were present to cheer her. India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the final at Navi Mumbai on November 2, clinching their historic title under captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
Recognition and Performance Highlights
Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly praised Richa's aggressive batting style, emphasizing the difficulty of her No. 6 position. He noted that her strike rate makes the difference between India posting 265 or 325 runs. Jhulan Goswami, who fast-tracked Richa into the national team, expressed hope to produce many more cricketers like her. During the World Cup, Richa accumulated 235 runs in eight innings at an impressive strike rate of 133.52. She struck 23 fours and 12 sixes, with her highest score being 94 against South Africa in the league phase, missing a century by just six runs off 77 deliveries. Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained her for INR 2.75 crore ahead of WPL 2026.
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