Jhulan Goswami was the ICC women's Cricketer of the Year in 2007. With a haul of 105 wickets, at 22.23, from 93 ODIs, she is the second highest Indian women's wicket-taker, behind Neetu David.
Last October, the 25-year-old replaced Mithali Raj as India captain for the tour of Australia, where the visitors were thrashed 5-0. The disaster followed a 4-0 mauling in a five-match contest in England a couple of months earlier.
The selectors though have still persisted with her as captain for the upcoming World Cup in Australia, begining March 7, and the latter is looking to justify their confidence.
If India does qualify for the final, to be played on March 22 at the North Sydney Oval, it will be Jhulan's 100th ODI.
In Mumbai for the preparatory camp, prior to the Indian team's departure for Australia on March 1, Jhulan discussed the team's preparation and chances at the upcoming tournament with Special Correspondent Bikash Mohapatra.
How well is the Indian team prepared for the upcoming World Cup?
We have already decided on the various combinations, the number of batswomen and bowlers we would like to have in the side. We are continuously discussing ways to maximise our performances. I think we are on the right track and, hopefully, before the World Cup everything will fall in place.
I believe we have a good chance to do well.
The Australian wickets are conducive for fast bowling (Interrupts)
Definitely. The Australian wickets are good, hard and they offer bounce. As a seam bowler you tend to get movement.
And the weather?
Yeah, the weather will play a crucial role.
We will try to adjust ourselves quickly to the conditions. Because we know in case we don't do well we can't put the blame on the weather.
India's plays it first match in the World Cup against Pakistan (at the Bradman Oval in Bowral on March 7). Your thoughts.
Each and every game is important for us. Playing Pakistan in the first match is definitely a big thing. India-Pakistan matches always carry very high expectations.
In any case, the first match of any tournament is always crucial. How you a start a tournament always matters. We will go step-by-step.
Since you replaced Mithali (Raj) as captain last October, it's been a difficult period (Interrupts)
See, pressure will always be there. Playing in international cricket itself is pressure. Captaincy is a challenge for me, and only if you take it as a challenge you can do well.
I am not looking back at our past performances (read the tour of Australia). What has happened in the past can't be altered.
What is more important is what we are doing at the moment. We have to take it on a day-by-day basis and try to improve. Let's just hope for the best.
What do you think went wrong during the Australian tour?
We didn't play good cricket on the last tour to Australia. That's it.
What happened in Australia was bad, but we can't pressurise ourselves constantly by looking at our past performances. Lessons can be learnt even in bad defeats, and I believe we have learnt our lessons from the time we toured there in October.
What has happened has happened. We need to look forward. But this team has many young cricketers. If we manage to motivate them in the right way, we will definitely end up having better results.
Finally, when everyone is opting for a foreign coach, would it be a good idea for the Indian women's cricket team to have one?
Yes, why not.
If it is in the best interests of the team I see no reason why we shouldn't go for it.
Photographs: Bikash Mohapatra
