Indian wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh played a brilliant innings for the ages during the Women’s ODI World Cup, scoring 94 off 77 balls while coming in at number eight. Though she missed her maiden century by mere 6 runs, her knock smashed a 52-year-old world record, making her the highest-scoring number eight in all World Cups (men’s and women’s combined).
The match & moment
India was in a serious crisis at 102/6 when Richa walked in. Facing the pressure of collapse, she played with nerve and flair, incorporating boundaries and well-judged aggression to navigate India to a competitive total of 251. Her knock not only stabilised the innings but also turned heads on the world stage.
Richa broke the previous women’s record-holder, Pooja Vastrakar (67), and even overtook Nathan Coulter-Nile’s 92 from the men’s World Cup, establishing a new world record.
Why comparisons with Dhoni?
The parallels are striking with a lower-order hard hitter saving the team under pressure and completing the inning with calm precision. When the Indian men’s cricket team found itself in trouble by losing early wickets and the run rate refusing to get up like someone on a winter morning, Mahendra Singh Dhoni always walked out with confidence, calmness, and a stride to hold on to the Indian innings and get the Indian team past the winning mark with his bat. Richa’s innings helped us relive such nostalgia. Social media is flooded with posts and reactions comparing Richa’s knock to MS Dhoni’s legendary finishing acts. (See post)
Richa’s innings didn’t just make history, but it also emphasised India’s growing strength in women’s cricket. Richa coming in at number eight and scoring 94 is a reminder that game changers can arise from any position. Her innings will motivate many young cricketers to play fearlessly, no matter where they bat.
