Titas Sadhu credited Jhulan Goswami for her growth in her career and thanked the former Indian fast bowler for being ‘a big part of my life’.
On Friday, January 5, the 19-year-old Sadhu won the Player of the Match after India beat Australia by nine wickets in the first Women’s T20I at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai.
Sadhu said that instead of overthinking, Goswami, who retired from all forms of cricket in 2022, advised her to focus on bowling as fast as possible.
“Jhulan Goswami has been a big part of my life. I first saw her when she was 13, and she has been in constant presence. Right now she is with Bengal, which I am supposed to probably join after this series,” Sadhu was quoted as saying in the post-match press conference.
“Working with her is a great opportunity; not a lot of people have it, and you get that experience. How many players have played more than 100 matches for India and for 20 years? I am not even 20 years old.”
“In the first conversation I had with Jhulan di, she had told, ‘stop thinking about everything else, just bowl fast. If you are a fast bowler, you have to bowl fast’ and I think that has been a key,” she stated.
Sadhu was stupendous against Alyssa Healy’s Australia after she finished with figures of 4-0-17-0. She rattled the opposition top order by dismissing Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath and Ash Gardner, after which she came back to pick up the crucial wicket of Annabel Sutherland in the death overs.
“There will be some tactical changes when you are bowling with the old and new ball. The batters also want to hit you harder and the pitch conditions also change. The best part of cricket is every day is different. The most important thing is presence of mind and how you adapt to get optimal results,’ Sadhu added.
Sadhu made sure that India restricted Australia to 141 after which the Women in Blue chased the target down with 14 balls to spare.
Leading the series 1-0, Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. will look to carry the momentum when they face Australia in the second T20I on Sunday, January 7.
