9 March - Hamilton - India player Jhulan Goswami pre-match press conference
Reporter: One thing we have noticed about you is routines – before starting your over you close your eyes and you say something to your - can you tell us what is that in your routine and maybe describe your pre match day routine – today what will you do to prepare yourself for tomorrows match?
Jhulan: Well that was just a trick – nothing else – just started – just before playing in India and somebody said, you know, tell to yourself what you have to do - it is just a routine – we have spoken to some sports psychologist in those days – I'm talking about 2001 - somebody said something, so that’s the thing I follow, and that's become my routine, that’s become a habit and I do it in a practice session also.
Reporter: And pre match day routine. What will you do for today to prepare for tomorrow?
Jhulan: Obviously, I figure out whom we are playing then I figure out the top order batters, and I try to, you know, make sure that I have certain plans, and I try to bowl there in the nets and execute those things, and then I write down the percentiles - how many balls are able to go in that area and how many balls I go here and there. So that is how - it's very simple, but I do my routine, very important for me because I'm a person who follows certain routine, certain things in your life and that things work for me and as long as it works for me, I’ll keep doing it.
Reporter: I wanted to know is bowling still a concern, given bowlers were not quite tested against Pakistan batters?
Jhulan: I think we bowled well, I guess we have hit the ball in the right area – as a group we bowled well and new ball bowlers restricted them very well in the first 10 overs and the spinners bowled well - they are able to turn the - getting bit of turn on that wickets. I think to restrict them below 150 runs is quite a good achievement as a bowling unit.
New Zealand is one of the teams that you have played often in the span of one month, and now with the World Cup match tomorrow, do you feel that playing them in the ODI’s before for this match, that experience will come handy for you people?
Jhulan: Well definitely because that was our plan - just before World Cup - to acclimatize with this condition. and this wickets and come back and play fresh in this World Cup. And this – tomorrows match is a totally different ballgame. It's a fresh game, and it's a World Cup game and definitely we're looking forward as you know we can try to make sure that we do well.
Reporter: I wanted to ask about the fast balling group – they haven't been able to get enough game time during the series – Pooja played in a couple of games, but both Meghna and Pooja bowled really well in the first game. So through the course of the tour since you landed in New Zealand, what kind of conversations you have had with the fast bowling unit, you know to make sure they're in the right frame of mind despite getting very little game time.
Jhulan: Whatever option we have, we have to make use of all those things and definitely Pooja, Meghna Renuka even Simran also they are in the team and myself we always discuss that which area we're going to bowl, because this New Zealand it is important to bowl in the right area, and there is - the grounds are pretty open. There's always wind blowing - so how to handle, how to take advantage of those things, we discuss a lot of stuff and everybody will not be able to perform in a same time. One day one bowler will perform and other will support others - so that's the plan and I think Pooja, Meghna Renuka, Simran – whoever gets the opportunity they did a decent job and I hope they will continue with the good performance.
Reporter: I just wanted to ask about Shefali’s form right now - she has done well in the past but recently has been struggling a bit. So is there any - what is the team managers thoughts on her position at the top of the order?
Jhulan: I think Shefali already proved herself – she is another very exciting cricketer. But these things happen with every cricketers, you know - sometimes they perform well, sometimes, you know, little bit here and there- but I'm sure that she will - She's working hard really well in the nets, she's batting well in the nets, hitting the ball really well. I hope she will come – she is just one big knock away, and if she gets the opportunity, I'm sure definitely she's going to do well because - she is a very exciting cricketer for us.
Reporter: My question to you is – how have your mental preparations been? Because the volume of cricket you've played is - it's not great right now, you play for ODI's and then you have a break and then you have to come back, physically pick up - go again. At this stage of your career - mental preparation – how important is it and how do you prepare mentally for a series?
Jhulan: This is a big stage - we're waiting for since 2017, because of COVID it got postponed. So definitely we all are looking forward for this tournament and really wanted to do well. And definitely it is important to stay mentally and physically fresh and to perform the next day, and definitely that is an area we all are working on all those things and hopefully, everything will be fine and we will play cricket well. because as long as you enjoy the game and you are doing well, everything is fine.
Reporter: Iif you could talk a bit about Richa Ghosh the wicket keeper? What has impressed you about Richa - the wicket keeper, she's still so young but seems to have taken to the job of wicket keeping like fish to water. What has impressed you, what kind of drills have you seen her do? How have the seniors rallied around making sure that Richa despite not being the frontline wicket keeper is given the confidence and the encouragement to do her best as a wicket keeper?
Jhulan: The thing in this team, I think we have plenty of youngsters and they are enjoying this - we all are enjoying each other's company and Richa has taken a responsibility as a wicket keeper. She's improving day by day, and her batting ability - you know she is even able to hit big sixes. She can score fast. So I think in our team – she will give us a lot of a lot of volume because you are getting one more all-rounder - batting all-rounder and she's improving as a keeper - so definitely her contribution, particularly whenever she got opportunity in New Zealand series she batted really well. And at the same time she's improving her keeping skills. Her last match I think she has done a good job behind the stump and we all are looking forward because she is also again one more kid who is very exciting and we all are looking forward and I wish her a lot of success in her future
Reporter: My question is your wicket tally in the World Cup – you are one wicket away from equaling and two wicket away from crossing the record of highest wicket taker in the World Cup. I just want to know how does it feel to have that record on your name – you have obviously achieved so many in international cricket and how does it feel when you look back at your World Cup journey to have the record on your name?
Jhulan: Honestly speaking I don't know that - thank you, honestly speaking I don't know I'm not aware of that - that how many wickets I have, that's also I don't know, but important is as a senior member of the side, go there and perform well, give a good start. Give early breakthrough. That is my job and I want to stick on my role, and that is the important thing and if you play since a long time, you are going to achieve a few individual milestone.
Yes, that matters, that gives you a lot of joy, but important is how you contribute for the team that's most important thing for me and I always believe on that and for me if I'm doing well but I'm my team is not winning. That does not give me a good you know, things for me - I don't enjoy those things. I enjoy when I contribute and the team wins. I enjoy that more and I want to stay strict in that and personal individual milestones don’t matter much to me, because I am an absolutely team player and I always try that I contribute as much as I can and whatever milestones are achieved – I will definitely try to enjoy those. Thank you for letting me know about this, I was not away and I'm really looking forward for tomorrow's match, I want to contribute and do well.
Reporter: You had said that you've been waiting for this moment since 2017. You've been waiting to get to New Zealand – the tournament had been postponed and all that - How relieved and happy are you first of all to have gotten here, to be fit - you know, you worked so much on your fitness in the MCA. How happy and relieved are you to have gotten here and to get the campaign underway with a win.
Jhulan: First of all, definitely we all are looking forward - really waited for it since a long time. There's been bits ups and down, few niggles here and there so yeah – along with that a bit of rehab work, and still we had to work through it. But at the same time – yes, when the first match was over, I realized, at night I felt that finally I have come back to the World Cup and since 2017 I haven't played any ICC, event like in a World Cup kind of tournament. So yeah, it gave me a lot of joy and felt like yes – you have this feeling that - behind the back, something is going on. I think I feel that's gone off - because I was waiting for long time and it felt good. I hope the momentum that we have got, we maintain that momentum and take it forward and whatever we are enjoying, we keep contributing more with enjoyment - and that's the thing and I'm really really happy that finally we're able to start - after postponement – after Covid sometimes it also happened where I felt that maybe the World Cup won’t happen, it was such a situation - beyond our control, but still we must thank to ICC where they come out and supporting in this tournament and women's cricket - I hope Women Cricket benefits a lot from this, and I'm very relieved because I thought, that maybe after so much hard work, after waiting for 5 years, the World Cup might get cancelled again. So yeah, it was a great feeling playing first match in last - no it was really great feeling.
Reporter: Regarding playing in Hamilton – **[Hindi 13:30]**and in terms of fitness is everyone available for tomorrow?
Jhulan: Definitely this wicket looks like it’s going to be a high scoring game and the wicket looks pretty flat. And yeah, we all expect some good score on the scoreboard and definitely have a plan and definitely try to execute. But this important thing - that day particular day how we are going to execute those plans, that's the most important thing.
We have done our work. But again, match days are different. How we will handle the pressure and how you're going to control and execute those plans. That's going to be important. And let's see, let's hope for the best. I think everybody's fit, everybody is available and definitely management team – whichever will be the best team – they will play them tomorrow.
Reporter: At times when Tanya Bhatia was seen as a frontline wicket keeper, but I guess because of batting – Richa is getting an upper hand. So what is the conversation with Tanya to keep her in the right mindset?
Jhulan: That's definitely important thing. There is a healthy competition in the side I hope - Tanya is also very good cricketer. She is working really hard. And whenever - if she get a chance, I'm sure that she is going to do well. And at this moment, whatever team management found that Richa is - as a batting extra – all-rounder point of view – **[HINDI 15:30]**and definitely Tanya is doing well in net session. She's really working hard and if she gets a chance - definitely I'm sure she's going to do well.
Reporter: Regarding playing in Hamilton –have you analyzed the conditions regarding bowling. As during Eng vs Aus series, even 300 runs were not enough on the board. So, have you made any plans****and in terms of fitness is everyone available for tomorrow?
Jhulan: Definitely this wicket looks like it’s going to be a high scoring game and the wicket looks pretty flat. And yeah, we all expect some good score on the scoreboard and definitely have a plan and definitely try to execute. But this important thing - that day particular day how we are going to execute those plans, that's the most important thing.
We have done our work. But again, match days are different. How we will handle the pressure and how you're going to control and execute those plans. That's going to be important. And let's see, let's hope for the best. I think everybody's fit, everybody is available and definitely management team – whichever will be the best team – they will play them tomorrow.
Reporter: At times when Tanya Bhatia was seen as a frontline wicket keeper, but I guess because of batting – Richa is getting an upper hand. So what is the conversation with Tanya to keep her in the right mindset?
Jhulan: That's definitely important thing. There is a healthy competition in the side I hope - Tanya is also very good cricketer. She is working really hard. And whenever - if she get a chance, I'm sure that she is going to do well. And at this moment, whatever team management found that Richa is - as a batting extra – all-rounder point of view, management prefers Richa and definitely Tanya is doing well in net session. She's really working hard and if she gets a chance - definitely I'm sure she's going to do well.
Reporter: You and Mithali, both are legends of this game. There is a hashtag on social media based on first letters of your name as MilJul. Have you heard about this hashtag please comment over this?
Jhulan: I have heard about MilJul but not about this hashtag. Honestly speaking, I switched off from every sort of social media prior to world cup start. Lot of people were texting and I was trying to stay away and focus on my game. Definitely I will search this hashtag MilJul from someone other’s phone not from my phone. Thanks for informing me. There are few things that we don’t know but we do have a little bit idea. Honestly speaking, just before the starting of the World Cup, I switch off from everything, every social media – because a lot of texts were coming, a lot of people are texting you, I try to stay away from everything – but definitely I'm going to search. Not from my phone, because I don’t want to again switch on – but I’ll definitely search from somebodies phone and find out what was the hashtag MILJHUL – so definitely I'm going to do that. Thanks for informing. There are a few things that we don’t know about, but we find out –
Reporter: Thank you everyone.