Titas turns titan for India

SEPTEMBER 24, 2022, was an emotional day for women's cricket fans. After almost 20 years of service, legendary pacer and Indian stalwart Jhulan Goswami bid adieu to the game she loved at the Lord's Cricket Ground. The Bengal pacer, inspired by the 1997 Women's World Cup final in Kolkata, left the big shoes to fill.

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Exactly a year later from that day, over 9000 km away from the Home of Cricket, in China, another Bengal pacer - Titas Sadhumade her debut for India in the Asian Games. 24 hours later, Sadhu took three wickets against Sri Lanka in the final, helping India secure their first gold medal in cricket at the continental event. Ask Sadhu about that comparison with Goswami and she shrugs it off immediately. "No way! She has played for 20 years, I am not even 20," the teenager told this daily before leaving for Asiad.

Even though she won't like that comparison, Sadhu has always looked up to the veteran.

"I met her just the day before the announcement of the squad for the Asian Games. She told me to talk to the juniors. I said, didi, I am also a kid (laughs).