The lanky fast bowler from Bengal is the leading candidate for the captain’s job ahead of the World Cup, which will be played in Australia this March. Jhulan led the India eves to an unsuccessful campaign in Australia last year, but despite the failed campaign in his debut tour as skipper, she is still the leading contender for the top job.

Expectedly, Jhulan told The Indian Express that she will consult Sourav Ganguly if she is given charge of the national team for the World Cup. “I will try to consult Sourav regarding advice on captaincy in Australia, if I become the captain,” she said.

Jhulan’s decision to approach Ganguly over captaincy hardly comes across as a surprise. Ganguly, who quit international cricket last year, has been the most successful captain Indian cricket has had at the highest level. And Jhulan, who hails from small town Chakdah, is rightly looking to make the most of her proximity to Ganguly.

The 15-member eves team for the World Cup and its captain will be selected tomorrow.

Jhulan explained that Ganguly’s vast experience in Australia and his knowledge of conditions Down Under will come in handy for her as well as for the team. Speaking to this daily, she said: “Sourav has huge experience and plenty of knowledge when it comes to captaining the national team in Australia. The most important thing is, he has particular knowledge of the nature of Australian pitches. Naturally, if I am selected as the skipper of the team for the World Cup, Sourav’s advice will help me a lot.

Despite the rather erratic performance of the Indian women’s team in recent years, Jhulan has stood out as a cog a in the wheel, winning the prestigious ICC Woman Cricketer of the Year award two seasons back. Expectedly, she replaced Mithali Raj as captain last season before the one-day series in Australia.

Consulting Sourav apart, Jhulan is meanwhile desperately waiting to fulfill another dream — meeting her idol Glenn McGrath. She couldn’t meet him during her tour Down Under last year, and is now looking aiming to get up-close with him this time round.

“I will try to meet McGrath at least once during the course of the World Cup. He is my idol, I want to meet him. I want to seek suggestions from him on how to improve my bowling,” the McGrath-fan gushed.

Despite a disastrous showing in Australia last year, Jhulan is confident that the Indian will bounce back hard in the coming World Cup. The Indian pacer, who completed the 100-wicket tally in one-dayers during the Down Under tour, reckons that the experience with Dav Whatmore has been particularly memorable as well as defining. Jhulan said that she learnt a lot of new things at the sessions in which the experienced coach oversaw the Indians’ net sessions at the preparatory camp.

“Whatmore used to be there at our nets everyday. And he never hesitated to rectify our mistakes. I really benefited a lot from his suggestions and by bowling improved, thanks to his advice. That apart, Whatmore has also given us a clear idea about the nature of wickets in Australia. No wonder, everyone of us was motivated by his presence at the two-week preparatory camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore,” she said.

Jhulan’s India teammate Priyanka Ray also says that Whatmore’s advice has been of huge help.