In a landmark moment for women’s cricket in India, **Richa Ghosh**—the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter who played a pivotal role in India’s historic ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 triumph—has been honored with one of the highest civic tributes a sportsperson can receive: a stadium named in her honor.
West Bengal Chief Minister **Mamata Banerjee** announced the construction of the **‘Richa Cricket Stadium’** in **Siliguri**, Ghosh’s hometown in North Bengal. The announcement, made during a state-level sports conclave, underscores a growing recognition of women athletes not just as performers, but as inspirational figures worthy of lasting legacy .
At just 22, Ghosh—a key finisher in the World Cup final with a blistering 42* off 28 balls—is already being celebrated as a role model far beyond the boundary ropes.
Table of Contents
- Richa Ghosh: The World Cup Hero
- Stadium in Siliguri: A Dream for North Bengal
- Beyond Cricket: Banga Bhushan and DSP Honors
- Why This Matters for Women’s Cricket in India
- Siliguri: A New Hub for Cricket Talent?
- Comparisons with Other Athlete Honors
- Conclusion
- Sources
Richa Ghosh: The World Cup Hero
Richa Ghosh’s rise has been meteoric. From playing tape-ball cricket in Siliguri’s narrow lanes to lifting the World Cup at DY Patil Stadium, her journey embodies the new era of Indian women’s cricket.
In the final against South Africa, her fearless knock under pressure broke the game open during the death overs. Her strike rate of **185** in the last five overs was the highest among all batters—a testament to her finishing prowess .
For her performance, she was awarded a unique incentive: **₹1 lakh per run scored in the final**, a gesture by the Bengal Cricket Association that totaled ₹42 lakh. But this stadium announcement? That’s legacy.
Stadium in Siliguri: A Dream for North Bengal
Siliguri, nestled near the foothills of the Himalayas and bordering Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, has long been a cricketing afterthought compared to Kolkata’s Maidans. The new **Richa Cricket Stadium** aims to change that.
Key features of the project:
- Capacity: 15,000+ spectators
- Includes indoor training facilities, floodlights, and turf wickets
- Will host age-group tournaments and potentially Women’s T20 Challenge matches
- Named permanently as “Richa Cricket Stadium” – a rare honor for an active player
CM Banerjee emphasized that the stadium would “inspire thousands of girls in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar to pick up the bat.”
Beyond Cricket: Banga Bhushan and DSP Honors
Ghosh’s recognition isn’t limited to sports infrastructure. In the same week, she was conferred the **‘Banga Bhushan’**—West Bengal’s second-highest civilian award—joining legends like Sourav Ganguly and Mithali Raj .
Even more notably, the state government appointed her as a **Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)** under its sports quota. While largely ceremonial, this move guarantees her job security and aligns with a growing trend of honoring elite athletes with civil service positions—a model previously used for PV Sindhu and Mirabai Chanu.
Why This Matters for Women’s Cricket in India
Naming a stadium after a **female cricketer**—especially one so young—is unprecedented in India. Historically, stadiums have honored male icons: Wankhede (Mumbai), Feroz Shah Kotla (Delhi), or Chinnaswamy (Bangalore).
This shift signals a new chapter:
- Visibility: Young girls now see their role models literally etched into the landscape.
- Infrastructure equity: Investment in regions outside metro cities boosts talent diversity.
- Policy shift: State governments are treating women’s sports as a development priority.
For context on national efforts, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has recently increased funding for women’s cricket academies by 40%—a trend Richa’s success is accelerating.
Siliguri: A New Hub for Cricket Talent?
With the stadium announcement, Siliguri could emerge as North Bengal’s cricketing nerve center. Local academies like the **North Bengal Cricket Academy** are already reporting a 60% spike in girls’ enrollment since the World Cup win.
“Before Richa, parents asked, ‘Will cricket give her a future?’ Now they ask, ‘When will my daughter play for India?’” says coach Anupam Das, who runs a grassroots program in Siliguri [INTERNAL_LINK:women-cricket-grassroots-india].
Comparisons with Other Athlete Honors
While stadiums named after living athletes are rare, Ghosh joins an elite global club:
- Sachin Tendulkar: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium’s “Sachin Tendulkar Gate” (Hyderabad)
- Mithali Raj: Cricket training center in Jodhpur named after her (2023)
- Serena Williams: USTA National Tennis Center (New York) features “Serena Williams Court”
But a full-fledged **cricket stadium** named after an active female cricketer? Richa Ghosh may be the first in India—and possibly Asia.
Conclusion
Richa Ghosh’s journey from Siliguri’s dusty lanes to World Cup glory has now come full circle. The naming of the **Richa Cricket Stadium** is more than an honor—it’s a promise to future generations that talent, regardless of gender or geography, will be seen, celebrated, and immortalized. As Bengal invests in her legacy, it also invests in the dreams of every girl who watches a match there and whispers, “That could be me.”
Sources
- Times of India: Women’s World Cup winner Richa Ghosh to get stadium named after her .
- Government of West Bengal Press Release: Banga Bhushan Awardees 2025.
- Sports Authority of India: Women’s Cricket Development Initiatives.