2021 World Cup keeping Jhulan Goswami motivated

The COVID-19 forced lockdown has not been easy for anyone, least of all athletes who are used to having their daily schedules planned well in advance. For Jhulan Goswami, the veteran India pacer, who is in the last stages of her career, the indefinite break has been particularly hard. However, the 37-year-old said she has been keeping herself motivated by thinking of the ODI World Cup next year in New Zealand.



"The biggest motivation for me right now is to do well in the 2021 World Cup next year," Goswami told Xtra Time. "It was heartening to know that ICC has no plans to postpone the event. I am focusing on my training and also doing a lot of meditation to keep myself fit during the lockdown."



Having twice faltered at the final hurdle, Goswami said she is even more determined to help India get over the line next year. With the hurt of the loss in 2017 spurring her on, the fast bowler said she is focused on righting all those wrongs in the next edition of the tournament.



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"Yes, the disappointment of not winning the 2017 is still there. But as a professional cricketer we have taken it in our stride."



Having retired from the T20 format in 2018, Goswami last featured for India in the ODI series against West Indies in November last year. She was turning out for Bengal in the domestic one-day games when the pandemic led to the cancellation of the remainder of the season.



If the proposed tri-series in England - also involving South Africa - goes ahead in September, Goswami will have very little time to prepare for the tour. However, she said she is up for the challenge.



"The challenge will be there wherever you play even in club level cricket. Each and every day is a challenge for a sports person. Preparation is important as I have not played any competitive cricket for a long time. The coronavirus pandemic has also forced everyone not to train outdoors. I will not have much time to prepare. The key will be to adapt quickly."



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All of 37, Goswami has been spearheading the Indian attack for the better part of a decade and a half. Since Rumeli Dhar and Amita Sharma both dropped off the selectors' radars, India has been in constant search for a fast bowler who could help lift her burden. In recent times, Shikha Pandey has shown the ability to do just that, enjoying a successful 2019-20 that culminated in her fantastic performances through the T20 World Cup.



Goswami said that India has plenty of talent in the pace department but it is important for the young bowlers to be nurtured and given opportunities to show their talent.



"There is a lot of talent. They need to be looked after well. They have a lot of quality. But important thing is how you nurture them for big matches. I play domestic cricket for Bengal and I have noticed almost every team has one or two good talented cricketers. There needs to be a pool of 15-20 cricketers. Considering the growth of women cricket, we need to have an intense program. The likes of Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Mansi Joshi, Shubhlakshmi Sharma, Sukanya Parida are all doing well. They need to be given opportunities and given a fair go."



Meanwhile, when asked about plans of retirement, Goswami remained typically evasive, saying she was only focused on the next tournament.



"I am mainly focusing on my job now. The 2021 World Cup will be big for women’s cricket. All I want to concentrate is on my cricket now rather than thinking about the future."