For Manabendra Ghosh, watching his daughter, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, on the field in the World Cup final was a moment that transcended expression. The pride he felt was shared across a nation.
“Watching her live and seeing the team lifting the cup is a feeling that no one understands — it is beyond expression,” he said, speaking to The Indian Express after the match from Mumbai.
“Couldn’t sleep the whole night… countless calls and messages. People are saying it is historic — it will change and inspire generations. But I always knew my daughter and all these girls would win the World Cup. Sometimes luck favours, sometimes it doesn’t, but hard work and perseverance always pay,” said Ghosh.
A small-town girl’s success brought the loudest cheer to her home in Siliguri. Richa’s journey, from a little girl with a bat as big as her to an international star, has been a source of immense joy for her family. Richa was born on September 28, 2003, in Siliguri, West Bengal. Her father, Manabendra, is a cricket umpire, and her mother, Swapna Ghosh, is a homemaker. She has an elder sister, Shomasree, who is pursuing Media Science.
“My daughter is always very soft spoken, disciplined. Seeing her talking after the match on the ground while the stadium cheered is a feeling only a father or mother can understand,” he shared.
Richa Ghosh is the only Indian player to have won the Under-19 World Cup, the WPL trophy, and the senior World Cup.
Manabendra Ghosh said cricket happened naturally. “One by one, she conquered all and we are a proud family. She has been part of the Under-19 World Championship, WPL, and now the senior World Cup. She is the only one who was there in all three.”
Her splendid performances at the junior level led her into the senior Bengal team in 2012-13. Richa made her debut for the Bengal Under-19s when she was 11 years old, and later, at 12, she played for the Bengal Under-23 team. In February 2020, she earned her place in the Indian side for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
When asked about the fame Richa has brought, the father of two daughters was quick to clarify his priorities. “Popularity has never been on our mind. She has been quite popular before the World Cup also. More than popularity, it gives me immense pride that she is part of this history.”
He added that he never felt the need for a son and that society in Bengal, in general, worships the girl child.
The emotional intensity of the moment was overwhelming. Richa’s father, who also runs a small business that he now barely has time for, spent the night after the victory in a state of joyous shock.
“Couldn’t sleep all night. My daughter always dreamt of lifting the World Cup. I dreamt it, the whole nation longed for it. These girls made the dream into reality, and not only my daughter — I am proud of each of them,” he said.
He passionately advocated for daughters in sport, dismissing the notion of gender barriers. “More than we pushing her into sport, it was my daughter who did it on her own.”
He spoke firmly against any form of doubt or discrimination. “I will just ask all the parents — do not doubt your daughters’ capabilities. Give them wings, let them fly. They are meant for things you could never imagine. I have cried with her, celebrated with her, and felt proud that I am a daughter’s father.”
Richa’s cricketing journey began when she was barely five, following her father to the field. “She used to come along with me when I played. She’d start knocking around — so active, so full of life,” he recalled. The family’s move to Kolkata, which opened doors through the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), proved pivotal, and at just 13, she represented Bengal’s senior team.
Her selection for the T20 World Cup remains a moment etched in his memory. “I was on my way to buy her a new phone when I got a call saying she had made it… ‘No, she’s been picked for the Indian T20 World Cup team!’ Tears rolled down my cheeks. I was spellbound. I can’t describe that feeling.”
Manabendra Ghosh also spoke about the practical challenges, like ensuring her safety during solo travel, but said the family always put her dream first, even over her studies. “World Cups don’t come every year… She can always give her board exams later. That’s how we made our peace with it.”
When asked what he’s most proud of, he pointed to her on-field demeanour. “Her calmness… her composure. That’s what surprises me most.”
“I once thought I made sacrifices for her
My career, my time. But now, when I see her play for India, I realise those sacrifices were nothing. What I gained through her achievements is far greater than anything I could’ve ever given up. I didn’t sacrifice my career — this is part of my career. So maybe the career I lost was nothing compared to what I gained.”
He added that despite all the accolades, Richa remains the same cheerful girl at heart who “still loves her mother’s home-cooked fried rice.”