Richa Ghosh received a hero’s welcome in her hometown, Siliguri, after playing a pivotal role in India’s historic triumph at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. The young wicketkeeper-batter, who emerged as one of the standout performers of the tournament, returned home to a celebration that perfectly reflected her rising stature in Indian cricket.

In recognition of her brilliant campaign, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has announced a special honour — a gold-plated bat and ball, signed by Sourav Ganguly and Jhulan Goswami, two legends she grew up idolising. India clinched their maiden Women’s World Cup title on November 2, defeating South Africa by 52 runs at a packed DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

While much of the spotlight fell on Jemimah Rodrigues’ match-winning century in the semi-final and Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership in the final, Richa’s consistency and fearlessness were equally crucial in India’s title run.

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As she landed in Siliguri, the 22-year-old was welcomed like a true champion. The entire city seemed to gather on the streets — fans waving flags, beating drums, dancing, and bursting crackers as their hometown star made her way through the cheering crowd. Local playgrounds and lanes echoed with chants of her name, a moment that captured how deeply her performances had resonated with people beyond the cricket field.

#WATCH | West Bengal: Cricketer Richa Ghosh returned to her home in Siliguri today, amid a grand welcome. She is a part of the World Cup-winning Indian Women’s team. pic.twitter.com/o0YjHF6JRX

— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2025

Richa’s World Cup campaign was nothing short of exceptional. She scored 235 runs in eight innings at an impressive average of 39.16 and a strike rate of 133.52 — the highest among Indian batters. Her 94 off 77 balls against South Africa in the group stage, after India were reeling at 102 for six, remains one of the defining knocks of the tournament. The innings not only rescued India but also made her the first woman in ODI history to score 80 or more runs while batting at No. 8 or lower.

In the final, she played a crucial cameo of 34 off 24 balls, helping India reach 298 for seven — a total that ultimately secured their maiden world title.

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CAB president Sourav Ganguly praised Richa’s temperament and impact, saying the gold-plated bat and ball is “a symbolic gesture to honour her extraordinary contribution.” He added that she has become an inspiration for every young cricketer in Bengal and across India.

Since her international debut in the 2020 T20 World Cup final, Richa has grown rapidly, scoring 1,145 runs in 51 matches. With her fearless batting, sharp glovework, and growing maturity, she now stands as one of the brightest young stars in women’s cricket.