Former India fast-bowling legend Jhulan Goswami made headlines on the eve of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 after firmly correcting a reporter during a pre-season press conference. Goswami, who is part of the Mumbai Indians Women’s support staff, was seated alongside team captain Harmanpreet Kaur ahead of their season opener scheduled for Friday, January 9.
The moment unfolded when a reporter questioned Harmanpreet about “recovering” from a run-out in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final. The query immediately caused confusion, as the reference was factually incorrect. Harmanpreet appeared visibly taken aback, prompting Goswami to intervene and address the error directly, underlining the need for accuracy and preparation in professional journalism.
“Wo final me run out nahi hui thi. Aap pehle apna history proper karke aaye, fir sawaal kare,” Jhulan Goswami said firmly. She clarified that the incident being referred to did not occur in the final and urged the reporter to verify facts before asking questions, adding that responsible reporting is essential at such high-profile media interactions.
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The run-out in question occurred during the semi-final against Australia at the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup, not the final, and not in the context suggested. The mix-up of both the match stage and opponent led to Goswami’s sharp yet composed response, which quickly went viral.
To all sports journalists do some basic research before questioning any women cricketers, I do not know what kind of question that was.. thanks to Jhulu di for that reply otherwise Harry would have smacked him like those Bangladeshi stumps pic.twitter.com/oSJjBD2jEq
— Bonny 🎀💕 (@harryjeee) January 7, 2026
Fans across social media applauded the former India pacer for standing up for her captain and calling out misinformation in a calm but authoritative manner. Jhulan Goswami has been a key figure in the Mumbai Indians Women’s setup since the inception of the WPL, playing a crucial mentoring role in shaping the franchise’s culture.
Under her guidance, the team has developed a strong sense of unity and professionalism, which has translated into on-field success, including two WPL titles.
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That bond was evident once again after Harmanpreet led India to the Women’s World Cup title in November 2025, when she invited Goswami to join the celebrations in Navi Mumbai. As defending champions, the Mumbai Indians Women will begin their WPL 2026 campaign against Smriti Mandhana-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women on January 9, aiming to continue their dominance in the league.
