‘She once missed a board exam to play a T20 cricket match’: Richa Ghosh’s father reflects on her journey from Siliguri to World Cup glory

He remembers the beginning. A little girl, barely five, followed her father to the field, picking up a bat and ball almost as big as her. “She used to come along with me when I played. She’d start knocking around; so active, so full of life,” he smiles. “At that time, I never thought she’d become a cricketer. I just put her into a club for fitness. But her determination, her sincerity shone through from a very early age.”

Opportunities were scarce in Siliguri back then. Richa’s spirit refused to dim. The family’s move to Kolkata opened doors, thanks to the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), which organised women’s camps and created space for young girls to dream big. “Some of her knocks caught the selectors’ attention,” he recalls. “From one age group to another, she kept moving up. At just 13, she represented Bengal’s senior team.”

Then came the game-changer — her selection for the Indian team.

“I was on my way to buy her a new phone when I got a call saying she had made it. I thought they meant the India U-18 team, but the person said, ‘No, she’s been picked for the Indian T20 World Cup team!’ Tears rolled down my cheeks. I was spellbound. I can’t describe that feeling.”

From that day, every milestone has been a story of pride and disbelief. “When she got selected for the 2025 World Cup, I wasn’t surprised. I was sure she’d make it,” he says. “Seeing India beat Australia and Richa playing her part in that victory, that’s a feeling beyond words.”

Raising a daughter in sport wasn’t easy. “We never treated her differently because she’s a girl,” he says, firmly. “But yes, it came with challenges. I had to make sure she was safe when she travelled alone for matches or camps. The first time she went to Goa for an NCA camp, we were anxious. Later, we realised the BCCI was taking care of everything, but that first time… it was hard to let go.”

For Manabendra, her education was never forgotten, but her dream always came first. “World Cups don’t come every year… She can always give her board exams later. That’s how we made our peace with it.”

Through it all, Richa has remained grounded — the same cheerful girl from Margaret School who always smiled and mixed with everyone. “She’s still that same child at heart,” he said. “Always calm, always cool. And yes,” he added, “she still loves her mother’s home-cooked fried rice.”

When asked what he’s most proud of, he doesn’t talk about the records. “Her calmness… her composure. That’s what surprises me most,” he says.

“I once thought I made sacrifices for her — my career, my time. But now, when I see her play for India, I realise those sacrifices were nothing. What I gained through her achievements is far greater than anything I could’ve ever given up. I didn’t sacrifice my career — this is part of my career. So, maybe, the career I lost was nothing compared to what I gained.”