Anjum Chopra Advocates for Richa Ghosh's Promotion in Women's T20 Asia Cup

New Delhi, India Aug 26, 2026 ALN: Two months after getting knocked out of the T20 World Cup in the group stages, India will be back on the field in the blues for the Women's Asia Cup which is starting in Dubai on Friday. The tournament marks an important opportunity for the Indian women's cricket team to regroup and refine their strategies in the shortest format of the game. Under the leadership of captain Harmanpreet Kaur, the team aims to regain its competitive edge and make a strong statement in the Asia Cup.

One of the persistent challenges faced by the Indian women's team in T20 Internationals has been their struggle to maintain a consistent batting intent throughout the 20 overs. This issue has been particularly evident in high-pressure situations where the team has failed to capitalize on good starts or build substantial partnerships. At the heart of this batting dilemma is the under-utilization of Richa Ghosh, the explosive wicketkeeper-batter from Bengal.

Ghosh has been shuffled up and down the batting order, often being relegated to a finishing role rather than being given the opportunity to anchor an innings. This tactical decision has raised questions among analysts and former players about the team's management and their approach to player utilization. With Jemimah Rodrigues, a key player and long-standing No. 3 for the team, currently sidelined due to injury, the upcoming Asia Cup presents a unique opportunity for Ghosh to showcase her capabilities at the top of the order.

In the past, Ghosh has been briefly tested at No. 3 and has shown promise; however, the team management has often reverted to traditional batting line-up strategies after a single disappointing performance. This pattern has led to a lack of continuity in her batting position, which could potentially hinder her development as a top-order batter. In this series, with a flexible batting order, Ghosh's full potential can be explored, allowing her to settle into a role that could benefit the team significantly.

Former India captain Anjum Chopra has voiced her support for Ghosh's promotion in the batting order. In a recent media interaction, Chopra expressed her surprise at the management's reluctance to give Ghosh a more prominent role. She recalled instances where head coach Amol Muzumdar had pushed for Ghosh to bat at No. 3 shortly after taking over but later abandoned the plan. Ghosh's batting averages speak for themselves; she boasts an impressive average of 48.75 at No. 3 in ODIs and a remarkable strike rate of 155.17 in T20Is, despite a limited sample size.

The statistics further illustrate Ghosh's potential impact when given the opportunity to bat higher in the order. For instance, since 2021, she has recorded the best strike rate at No. 3 for India, with a phenomenal 208.57 strike rate in just two innings. In contrast, Rodrigues, who has been a mainstay at No. 3, has averaged 30.3 over 54 innings with a strike rate of 117.65. These numbers indicate that Ghosh could provide the explosive batting that the team needs, especially in a format where quick runs are crucial.

Chopra also pointed out that Ghosh's batting position may be influenced more by the team's overall depth rather than her individual capabilities. Since 2021, Ghosh has accumulated 1,097 runs at an average of 28.86 and a strike rate of 143.77 while batting at No. 5 or lower. In comparison, Rodrigues has scored 306 runs at a slightly better average of 34. The disparity in these figures highlights the need for strategic shifts in the batting order to maximize the team's scoring potential.

"When you look at it from a team's perspective, they would obviously want to hold a player back. Also, at the same time, do not hold her back for too long because there are others who would probably do better by going ahead of Richa rather than Richa walking ahead of everybody else. It's not because Richa does not have that skill. It's because others don't have that kind of skill that Richa has," Chopra explained, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and utilizing talent effectively.

Chopra further elaborated on the batting order dynamics, suggesting that if Ghosh is given the chance to bat higher up, it could significantly enhance the team's scoring opportunities. She has long maintained that the captain should ideally bat at No. 3 to stabilize the innings, but if that is not feasible, Ghosh should be considered for that position, provided the match situation allows. This strategic adjustment could not only increase Ghosh's scoring chances but also allow the team to make a greater impact in matches.

As the tournament unfolds, the Indian women's cricket team has a chance to hit the reset button and build towards future competitions, including the Champions Trophy scheduled for next year in Sri Lanka. The Asia Cup represents a critical juncture for the team to refine their strategies and solidify their batting order, particularly in light of the ongoing discussions about Richa Ghosh's role. With the right adjustments, the Indian women's team could emerge as a formidable contender in the tournament and beyond.