‘Jhulan Goswami’s a big part of my life’

India’s Titas Sadhu (second from right) celebrates the wicket of Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner with teammates at the DY Patil Stadium on Friday. Pic/PTI

Titas Sadhu, the 19-year-old right-arm medium-pacer, came close to emulating the person she grew up admiring, Jhulan Goswami. Hailing from the same state of Bengal, Sadhu produced the second-best figures for India against Australia in WT20Is, 4-17 on Friday at DY Patil Stadium behind Goswami's 5-11 in 2012.

Sadhu starred in India's nine-wicket win over Australia to help India take a 1-0 lead. The player-of-the-match said: "Jhulan Goswami has been a big part of my life. I first saw her when I was 13. She has been in my constant presence. She is now in Delhi with the Bengal team, which I am supposed to join after this is done [for Senior Women's One-Day Trophy]. Working with her is a great opportunity not a lot of people have. How many have played more than 100 matches and for 20 years? I am not even 20," Sadhu said.

Bowling fast, the key

"In my first conversation with Jhulan di, she said, ‘Stop thinking about everything else and bowl fast. If you are a fast bowler, you have to bowl fast.' That has been the key," Sadhu added.

Jhulan Goswami and Alyssa Healy

A Class 12 student of open schooling, Sadhu went through the high of being the player of the final in India's triumph of the ICC Women's U-19 T20 World Cup in South Africa last January to warming the bench the entire WPL for Delhi Capitals. She also earned the maiden India call up, playing in the victorious Asian Games campaign before going wicketless in the second and third T20Is against England last month.

Sadhu credited India's bowling coach Troy Cooley for her recent progress. She said: "Troy is a terrific person, not just a coach. He is like a resource to us. I try to pick as much as I can from him. He keeps it very simple and that has helped me a lot."

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‘140 not enough'

Meanwhile, Australia captain Alyssa Healy admitted her team were not "good enough in all three facets of the game". Healy said: "On that wicket, especially with the dew coming [in], 140 was not enough. We let ourselves down with the new ball."

Healy praised the Indian bowlers. "India had the best of conditions with the new ball. The wicket offered a little bit. They bowled impeccable lengths. Full credit to Sadhu and others. We just need to adjust to the conditions a little bit quicker and put some competitive totals on the board."

The second match will be played at the same venue on Sunday. This will be Ellyse Perry's 300th international appearance. Healy said: "It is a great opportunity for our team to celebrate an amazing person who has been in the forefront of our game and seen the evolution of the game around the world. The opportunity to be a part of her 300th fixture, everyone's really excited for her. Hopefully, we can have a win to celebrate as well," Healy said.

The 33-year-old Perry will be the first Australian woman and fourth in the world to reach the milestone. Mithali Raj of India (333), England's Charlotte Edwards and New Zealand's Suzie Bates (309 each) are the others to have played 300-plus internationals across all formats.