Jhulan Goswami

A decade and a half since bursting onto the scene, Goswami has cemented her legacy as arguably India’s greatest women’s fast bowler. Certainly the fastest bowler at the peak of her career, Goswami currently holds the record of most wickets taken in ODI history.

A right-arm medium fast bowler, Goswami made her ODI debut against England in 2002. She impressed everyone in her debut match, taking two wickets and conceding 15 runs as India won the match convincingly. 

In the second Test match against England at Taunton in 2002, Goswami picked up three wickets in the first innings, followed by a world record seventh-wicket partnership of 157 along with Mithali Raj. 

Four years down the line, India again toured England, and Goswami was the star with both bat & the ball. In the first Test at Leicester, she scored a gritty half-century coming in as a nightwatchman, and in the second Test at Taunton, Goswami grabbed a 10-wicket haul in the match and propelled India to a historic series victory against England.

For her impressive performances in international cricket, Goswami was awarded the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in 2007. 

She took over the captaincy in 2008 and held the position till 2011. In 2008 she became the fourth woman to claim 100 wickets in the ODI format. Two years later, she was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award.

In May 2017, Goswami became the highest wicket-taker in ODI history when she took her 181st wicket, surpassing Australia’s Cathryn Fitzpatrick, and the following year she became the first woman cricketer to reach the 200 wicket landmark in ODI’s. 

In September 2018, the speedster took her 300th wicket in international cricket. Goswami was named in the International Cricket Council Women’s ODI team of the decade. 

The leader of India’s pace attack, Goswami has been a stalwart for Indian cricket for nearly two decades. Bowling at accurate line and length is her biggest strengths.

(As of Mar 21)