Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: ‘I would love to send her on the first ball’ - Harmanpreet Kaur lauds Richa Ghosh after Pakistan win

Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur heaped praise on wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh and even suggested that she could be considered for an opening role following her explosive cameo against Pakistan in the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 on June 14. Richa smashed 34 runs off just 17 deliveries, striking five fours and a six, as India secured a commanding 64-run victory at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Batting at No. 6, Richa provided the late impetus to India's innings with her fearless strokeplay, helping shift the momentum firmly in her team's favour. Reflecting on her performance, Harmanpreet said she would personally love to see Richa bat higher up the order. However, the India skipper also made it clear that Richa has a well-defined role in the middle order and that the team is pleased with the impact she consistently makes in that position.

“If it's in my hand, I would love to send her on the first ball. But I think she has some role to play and she's doing really well and really happy the way she played today,” Harmanpreet said as quoted by India Today.

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Richa produced a match-defining cameo against Pakistan, shifting the momentum decisively in India's favour with a fearless display of power-hitting during the middle and death overs. The wicketkeeper-batter grew in confidence as her innings progressed, taking on both the spinners and seamers with equal authority.

Against Tasmia Rubab, she showcased her full range of shots, swivelling into a powerful pull, slicing a thick edge over backward point, and then launching a clean six over long-on to significantly boost India's scoring rate. Richa continued her assault with boundaries through the cover and mid-wicket regions, forcing Pakistan's bowlers onto the defensive and preventing them from settling into a rhythm.

Even when Nashra Sandhu attempted to stem the flow of runs with clever variations, Richa remained composed. She rotated the strike effectively, picked her moments to attack, and capitalised on every loose delivery. In the closing stages, she added further impetus with a blend of aggressive strokeplay and smart improvisation, including a swept boundary and several well-judged runs under pressure.