ENG-W vs IND-W: Harmanpreet Kaur gets emotional, hugs Jhulan Goswami as latter shows up for her farewell international game

It was an emotional start to India’s final ODI game of the three-match series against England at the iconic Lord’s as the legendary pacer Jhulan Goswami walked in to play her final international game. The 39-year-old, who is currently the leading wicket-taker in Women’s ODI, will be retiring from all forms of international cricket after the conclusion of the ongoing India’s tour of the UK.

Before the start of the play, Jhulan Goswami was presented a memento for her invaluable service and contributions towards Indian cricket. While the team gathered for the special moment, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was seen in tears as she got emotional while talking to the team before the final game, and Goswami consoled her by patting on her back.

It was an emotional moment for not just Kaur, but everyone associated with the Indian women’s cricket team, as well as the Indian cricket fans from all around the globe. Goswami has served for over two decades, and not seeing her in the international setup will surely be a hard fact to digest for the team and the fans.

India script history by winning the ODI series in England

Speaking of the ongoing series, the third and final ODI, played at the Lord’s is a dead rubber as India clinched the series by winning the first two games. Smriti Mandhana’s knock of 91(99) in the first ODI led India to a win in the first game as the Women in Blue chased down the 228-run target set by England with seven wickets to spare.

In the second game, Harmanpreet Kaur notched up a magnificent, unbeaten century as she scored a massive 143* off the 111 deliveries faced. She dominated India’s first innings, which helped the side post a humungous total of 333 runs. Pacer Renuka Thakur then carried the game forward in the second innings and contributed brilliantly by taking a four-wicket haul.

As a result, India dished out England for 245 runs to win the match by 88 runs. India scripted history by winning the ODI series as they defeated England, on the English soil, for just the second time in the history of Women’s ODI. Before this, India had won only one ODI series in England, which dates back to the year 1999.

Notably, the 1999 winning series was Mithali Raj’s debut series, and the 2022 winning series became Jhulan Goswami’s last. Mithali Raj, India’s former skipper, announced her retirement earlier this year. The two have taken India to new heights over the years, and while Goswami ends her career as the leading wicket-taker, Raj remains to be as the leading run-scorer in Women’s international cricket.