Jhulan Nishit Goswami is an Indian former cricketer who played for the India women's national cricket team in all three international formats. A right-arm medium-fast bowler and lower-order right-handed batter, she is regarded as one of the finest fast bowlers in the history of women's cricket and was, for many years, the highest wicket-taker in women's One Day International cricket.
| Full name | Jhulan Nishit Goswami |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 November 1982, Chakdaha, Nadia district, West Bengal, India |
| Role | Right-arm medium-fast bowler; right-handed batter |
| National side | India women |
| Domestic teams | Bengal, East Zone |
| International debut | ODI: 2002 vs England |
| Test debut | 2002 vs England |
| T20I debut | 2006 vs England |
| Captaincy | Captain of India women (2008–2011) |
| Honours | ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year (2007); Arjuna Award (2010); Padma Shri (2012) |
| Retirement | International retirement: September 2022 |
Born in the small town of Chakdaha in Nadia district of West Bengal, Goswami grew up in a middle-class Bengali family. She took up cricket relatively late by elite standards, travelling long distances by train to Kolkata for training. She has cited the 1997 Women's Cricket World Cup final at Eden Gardens, where she served as a ball girl, as a turning point that drew her towards the game.
Goswami represented Bengal in domestic women's cricket and played for East Zone in inter-zonal competitions. She also featured in franchise competitions abroad, including stints with teams in Australia's Women's Big Bash League. She was associated with the Trailblazers in the Women's T20 Challenge organised by the BCCI, and was retained by the Mumbai Indians for the inaugural Women's Premier League in 2023, although she had retired from international cricket by then.
Goswami made her international debut for India in 2002 against England. Over a career spanning two decades, she became the spearhead of India's pace attack across formats.
Standing tall with a high-arm action, Goswami was known for genuine pace, late swing and accuracy. At her peak she was among the fastest women bowlers in the world. She is widely credited with raising the profile of fast bowling in Indian women's cricket and inspiring a generation of pace bowlers, including Shikha Pandey and Renuka Singh. Her longevity, fitness and consistency over twenty years made her a benchmark for professionalism in the women's game in India.
A Hindi-language biographical film, Chakda Xpress, based on her life and career was announced, with actor Anushka Sharma in the lead role. The title is drawn from the nickname "Chakda Express", referring to her hometown of Chakdaha.
Goswami married Bengali businessman Niranjan Shashtri Mukherjee in 2021. She continues to be associated with the development of women's cricket in India, including roles in coaching and mentorship.