This is Part 12 of Legends of Indian Cricket, our 20-part series on the players who shaped the game in India. New here? Start with Part 1: Vinoo Mankad, or read the previous part, Part 11: Mithali Raj.
Fast bowling was not the obvious path for a girl from Chakdaha, a small town in West Bengal. But Jhulan Goswami, born in 1982, became one of the greatest fast bowlers women's cricket has seen, and India's spearhead for two decades.
Inspired at Eden
As a teenager, Jhulan watched the 1997 Women's World Cup final at Eden Gardens and decided she wanted to play for India. She travelled hours by train every day to train in Kolkata, often taking the first train at dawn.
Speed and skill
Tall and strong, Jhulan bowled at speeds few women could match, and paired pace with accuracy and seam movement. She opened the bowling for India in the 2005 and 2017 World Cup finals alongside her captain Mithali Raj.
Career in numbers
- 204 ODIs and 255 wickets, the most by any woman in ODI history.
- 12 Tests and 44 wickets.
- 68 T20Is and 56 wickets.
- 355 international wickets in all.
Honours
- ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year in 2007.
- Arjuna Award (2010) and Padma Shri (2012).
- Captained India from 2008 to 2011.
Farewell at Lord's
Jhulan played her final international match at Lord's in September 2022, where India completed a series sweep over England. Both teams formed a guard of honour.
Legacy
Jhulan proved that Indian women could be world-class fast bowlers. She has since mentored young bowlers in the Women's Premier League, passing on a craft she largely taught herself.
Statistics are for international cricket and are correct to the best of our knowledge as of October 2026; figures for active players will change.
Next in the series: Part 13: Harbhajan Singh.
