Jhulan Goswami (born 25 November 1982) is a former Indian cricketer and one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of the women’s game. In an international career of twenty years she took 255 wickets in One Day Internationals, the most by any woman. She was the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in 2007, captained India from 2008 to 2011 and played her last match at Lord’s in September 2022.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Jhulan Nishit Goswami |
| Born | 25 November 1982, Chakdaha, Nadia district, West Bengal, India |
| Age | 43 |
| Role | Right-arm fast-medium bowler |
| International career | 2002–2022 |
| ODI record | 255 wickets in 204 matches (world record) |
| Height | 1.80 m |
| Nickname | Chakdaha Express |
| Honours | Arjuna Award (2010), Padma Shri (2012) |
Early Life
Goswami grew up in Chakdaha, a small town about eighty kilometres from Kolkata. She was a ball girl at the 1997 Women’s World Cup final at Eden Gardens, and watching Australia’s Belinda Clark that day made her want to play. With no proper coaching at home, she took a train at five in the morning three days a week to train in Kolkata under Swapan Sadhu. Her height and smooth action made her one of the quickest bowlers in the women’s game.
Career
She made her debut for India against England in Chennai in January 2002. In 2006 she took ten wickets in the Test at Taunton, leading India to their first Test series win in England. She was named ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in 2007.
She captained India from 2008 to 2011. In 2017 she became the highest wicket-taker in women’s ODIs, passing Australia’s Cathryn Fitzpatrick, and with Mithali Raj she took India to the final of that year’s World Cup, where her three wickets almost won the match against England. She played in five World Cups.
Her last international was the third ODI against England at Lord’s on 24 September 2022, which India won to sweep the series; the players of both sides gave her a guard of honour.
After Cricket
She is a bowling coach and mentor with Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League and has worked with the Bengal women’s team. A stand at Eden Gardens has been named after her.
Awards and Honours
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Jhulan Goswami born?
Jhulan Goswami was born on 25 November 1982 in Chakdaha, Nadia district, West Bengal, India and is 43 years old.
What is Jhulan Goswami’s role?
Role: Right-arm fast-medium bowler.
What honours has Jhulan Goswami received?
Arjuna Award (2010), Padma Shri (2012).
Featured image: Jhulan Goswami receives the Padma Shri from President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, 22 March 2012. Photo by President’s Secretariat, licensed under Government Open Data License – India, via Wikimedia Commons.
