The 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batter blasted a crucial 17-ball 34 during India\u2019s 64-run win over Pakistan on Sunday, having hit an equally explosive 68 during her side\u2019s warm-up match against England in Cardiff.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Before those two knocks, Ghosh was suffering from a lean spell in which she only scored 18 runs across four innings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But now back fully firing for India\u2019s latest attempt at claiming a maiden T20 global crown, Ghosh, who is part of the side that will take on the Netherlands at Headingley on Wednesday, was always confident that she could turn things around.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAt that time, I just stayed focused on my game because, although I was not getting the runs at the time, I knew what I could do,\u201d said Ghosh. \u201cI was thinking that I could work more on my drills and just remain focused. And that it was okay if I'm not getting it, as I was in good touch at that time, but not getting runs. This happens.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI spoke to Hari [Harmanpreet Kaur] and all the seniors, Smriti [Mandhana] too, about what to do. And they said, \u2018Don't worry, just play your game and just focus. That's it. And that helped me also.,\u201d Richa was quoted as saying on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Despite the Netherlands making their ICC Women\u2019s T20 World Cup debut, the Dutch outfit fitted in on the big stage during their first match of the tournament against Bangladesh, as they only narrowly missed out on a maiden World Cup win.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ghosh insists she and her teammates will not be taking the Netherlands for granted when the two meet in Leeds on Wednesday and praised them for the strides they have made in international cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
She added, \u201cI saw them before the World Cup. They have good bowlers, and for them it's the first time. They're doing really well, and every team is like, \u2018They can do well. I think they've done really well. That's why they're here, and we are not taking any team easily, and we're just looking forward.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Netherlands head coach, Neil MacRae, was full of admiration for Wednesday\u2019s opponents and the work they had done in promoting the women\u2019s game, adding that the positive effects of India's franchise tournament, the Women\u2019s Premier League, can be felt around the world.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe rise of Indian women's cricket has been an inspiration for everybody, particularly in the last few years,\u201d he said. \u201cWith four years of the WPL and winning their first World Cup last year in the 50-over format, you can see that progression has really come through the WPL experience and the team has gone to a different level.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
MacRae was also proud of the way his players handled themselves at Edgbaston in their World Cup opener and said his charges are viewing the tournament as a chance to expand the country\u2019s cricketing horizons.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He added: \u201cIt's a privilege for us to be at a World Cup taking on a team of the might of India, a country steeped in so much history and passion for cricket. It's an unbelievable opportunity to take on one of the world's best teams.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI thought in the first game against Bangladesh we played some good cricket, but the occasion of our first-ever T20 World Cup match weighed quite heavily on the players.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He added: \u201cIt's a privilege for us to be at a World Cup taking on a team of the might of India, a country steeped in so much history and passion for cricket. It's an unbelievable opportunity to take on one of the world's best teams.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI thought they coped really well. Having experienced that now, they're much better placed in the second game to come out and play their best cricket,\u201d she added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n