“Why did you reach 217?” - Former India cricketer lauds Richa Ghosh’s knock in IND vs WI 2024 3rd T20I

Former India spinner Reema Malhotra has lauded Richa Ghosh for playing a belligerent knock in the third T20I between India and the West Indies on Thursday, December 19. Reema noted that the Women in Blue reached a humongous total primarily because of the wicketkeeper-batter's innings.

Ghosh smoked 54 runs off 21 deliveries as India set the West Indies a 218-run target at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The hosts then restricted the visitors to 157/9 to register a resounding 60-run win and bag the series 2-1.

During a discussion on Sports18, Malhotra praised Ghosh for playing a game-defining knock.

"This player batted exceptionally well in the last two matches as well. She knows she can hit sixes at will and that she can cover up even if she plays two or three dot balls. Whichever player knows their strength, they play to it, and that is why this player looks different in a crowd. This is why she was chosen early in the Indian team," she said.

"She is a game-changing player. She changes the momentum. Why did you reach 217? It's because of the 54-run knock that came at a fast pace. She is known for match-winning knocks. You were reaching 150-160 in any case, but if you wanted to go past 200, you needed an X-factor, and that was Richa Ghosh," Malhotra added.

Ghosh walked out to bat when India were 143/3 after 14.4 overs at the fall of Smriti Mandhana's (77 off 47) wicket. She added 70 runs for the fourth wicket with Raghvi Bist (31* off 22) in just 5.1 overs to take India to their highest total in women's T20Is.

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"She has both finesse and power" - Poonam Yadav on Richa Ghosh

Richa Ghosh struck three fours and five sixes during her innings. [P/C: BCCI]

In the same discussion, Poonam Yadav noted that Richa Ghosh can play powerful as well as elegant shots.

"She scored 50 runs off 18 balls and that too at such a young age. Her shots were praiseworthy. She hit a six off the first ball and then played a cut when the second ball was short. So she has both finesse and power. That is what I like about this player," she said.

The India leg-spinner termed the youngster a 'complete player.'

"She is young but has the same or more understanding than all the big players. She understands the game situation. She knows when to hit big shots and when to play steadily. I find her a complete player," Yadav elaborated.

Ghosh was awarded the Player of the Match for her explosive knock. She reached her fifty off just 18 balls, the joint-fastest in women's T20Is, alongside Sophie Devine and Phoebe Litchfield.