Sourav Ganguly Backs Richa Ghosh as Future India Captain After Harmanpreet Kaur

Sourav Ganguly surprised fans by naming 22-year-old Richa Ghosh, not Smriti Mandhana, as his choice to captain India after Harmanpreet Kaur.

Soon after India’s historic Women’s World Cup win over South Africa in Navi Mumbai, discussions began about the team’s future leadership. Following Shantha Rangaswamy’s call for Smriti Mandhana to take charge from Harmanpreet Kaur, Sourav Ganguly has backed young wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh as a future captain.

Richa was one of India’s most consistent performers in the tournament, scoring 235 runs in eight matches, including a vital 34 off 24 balls in the final. Ganguly praised her temperament and potential, suggesting she could lead Indian women’s cricket in the coming years.

“The World Cup triumph is a special, special win and only Richa can tell us what that feels like. Your career has just begun. Women’s cricket will grow massively in the next four to six years, and there will be more opportunities. I hope you make the most of them and one day, like Jhulan, we’ll stand here and say: ‘Richa — India captain’. You’re just 22… You’ve got time. All blessings and heartiest congratulations,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by The Hindustan Times.

“The role she plays batting lower down the order is very difficult. You get fewer balls, but you have to score the most runs. People may remember Jemimah’s 127 not out or Harmanpreet’s 89 in the semifinals, but Richa’s strike rate of 130-plus made the difference. What she’s done so simply is equal in value to Smriti or Harman,” he added.

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Notaby, Richa Ghosh led the charts for runs in the death overs, scoring 185 at a strike rate of 165.17. Her World Cup campaign has earned her multiple honours, including the Banga Bhushan award, a Deputy Superintendent of Police post from the Bengal government, and ₹34 lakh from the Cricket Association of Bengal for her 34 runs in the final.