Jhulan Goswami born on November 25th 1982 in Kalyani, Calcutta (Kolkata), Bengal, is India Test, ODI and T20I pace bowler.
Taking up cricket at the age of 15 after previously preferring soccer, Jhulan had to move to Kolkata to further her career. In a land where fast bowlers are rare jewels, Goswami was quick to rise through the ranks and at the age of 19 made her international debut in 2001/02 against England at Chennai, taking 2-15. In the same season, against the same opponent, she made her Test debut.
In the 2006 Test series in England, Goswami made her highest Test score – 69 – coming in to bat as night watchman at number three. Combined with her five wickets, she was Player of the Match. In the second Test of that series, her best Test haul of 10-78, again Player of the Match. India won the series. In her total of 12 Test matches Goswami has taken 44 wickets at 17.36.
In 2018 Jhulan became the first woman cricketer to take 200 ODI wickets. Previously she had overtaken Australian bowler Cathryn Fitzpatrick’s record of 180. In 192 ODIs, Jhulan has taken 240 wickets at 21.59 with a best of 6-31. She is the all-time highest wicket taker in women’s ODIs.
In 68 T20Is, 56 wickets at 21.94, with a best of 5-11. Importantly, an economy rate of just 3.28. For a brief time between 2008 and 2011, Goswami was captain of both the T20 and ODI teams – the Women in Blue – and a role she held with distinction.
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