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Richa Ghosh was only four years old when she first walked into the Siliguri College Ground, and back then, no one could have guessed she would one day lift the Women's ODI World Cup for India. For her childhood coach, Gopal Saha, the memory remains fresh, the tiny tot clutching a bat, shadow-practising beside her father. "Her home is just 200 metres from the ground. She used to accompany her father, who was also a cricketer, and would always play with bats and balls. Even at that age, she was different; she'd put on her gloves, dive around, and stay on the field longer than anyone else. Unlike other girls, she loved the grind," recalls Saha, 50, who trains youngsters at Baghajatin Athletic Club. Richa was shy in those early days, but her intent stood out. "She was the only girl in camp when she joined, practising only with the boys. But now, even the boys look up to her," Saha says with pride. "When she was about eight, it seemed she was meant for this game." She began as a bowler, but Saha saw something more. "I made her keep wickets, and she took to it naturally," he says. From there, the rise was quick: U12 U13, U15, U17, and then Bengal. By 12, she had already made the state team after scoring heavily in district matches. In one match in Hyderabad, she made 48 runs, catching the eye of then-India coach WV Raman, who picked her for the T20 side. "Back then, she was also backed by Jhulan Goswami, who believed she had the temperament and power-hitting ability to succeed," Saha remembered. "She always wanted to hit hard when she was young, but later learned when to hold back; that balance made her special," he recalled. Even now, when she's home, Richa returns to the same ground where it all began. "She still comes to practice here. Seeing her, so many girls have joined the club. Earlier, she was the only one; today, the ground is full of young girls who believe they can be like her." For Saha, Richa's journey is more than success; it's a transformation. "For me and all of us here, it's pride. Watching her play the World Cup final and win it, that feeling can't be described. When she comes back, we have grand plans to welcome her," he says with a smile. And his message to his most famous student? "I would only tell her to keep concentrating on her game. The journey isn't over, it's just begun." Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Sports, Cricket and around the world.
