Indian pacer Kranti Gaud had a great campaign in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, as she helped her team lift their maiden title at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
This was a massive feat for Kranti, as her journey began from watching the game from a distance and accidentally getting a chance to play.
Speaking about Kranti Gaud, her story began far from the stadium lights and cameras. She mostly watched from afar, a bunch of boys playing the game and simply throw the ball back at them whenever it landed at her doorstep. She ended up in the playing XI by chance when the boys found themselves a player short one fine day.
‘…when I started playing with them, they used to play me only as a fielder but slowly, I also learned playing. I didn’t even know that there was something called a spin bowler so I just started bowling pace looking at them,’ Kranti said while speaking to PTI Videos about her nascent but remarkable career so far..
‘Then I played a leather ball tournament and met Rajiv sir,’ she recalled. The ‘Rajiv‘ that she is referring to here is Rajiv Bilthre, who was the secretary of the Chhatarpur District Cricket Association at the time, and found her speed to be impressive.
‘He asked me whether I aspired to play international cricket as well. I was not aware that there is an international team of girls and then he took me to his academy. Within six months I played the senior division and within a year I debuted for state’s domestic under-19 team in Vadodara,’ she added.
Speaking about Indian women’s victory in the ODI World Cup 2025, they created history as they beat South Africa by 52 runs- lifting their maiden title at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai in a rain affected match with captain Harmanpreet Kaur being more than happy to lead her side to the victorious campaign.