Big inswing, bigger dreams: The rise and transformation of Kranti Gaud

Big inswing, bigger dreams: The rise and transformation of Kranti Gaud

The rise and transformation of Kranti Gaud is one of Indian women’s cricket’s most inspiring stories — a journey that began in the small village of Ghuwara, Madhya Pradesh, and reached the grand stages of the Women’s Premier League and World Cup. Known to her hometown as Rohini, the rise and transformation of Kranti Gaud proves how determination, raw talent, and guidance can turn a dream into reality.

When the Madhya Pradesh Under-16 squad was announced in 2018, her name confused even her coach, Rajiv Bilthare, who couldn’t find “Rohini” on the list — until he realized that the rise and transformation of Kranti Gaud had just begun under her real name. Coming from a humble background, the youngest of six siblings, she defied social expectations and challenged norms through her love for fast bowling.

Even as a young girl, the rise and transformation of Kranti Gaud was evident in her fearless tennis-ball cricket matches against older boys. Her passion for pace and natural inswing soon caught the eye of Bilthare, who became her mentor. Despite her family’s financial struggles, she moved to Chhatarpur to train seriously — with the academy covering her food, lodging, and gear.

By the age of 15, the rise and transformation of Kranti Gaud had reached new heights as she made the MP Under-16 team and later impressed in the Under-19 squad. Though she was initially picked for her batting, her natural ability to swing the ball inwards changed her career path forever. However, consistency was her biggest hurdle in those early years.

From Small-Town Beginnings to International Cricket Glory: The Rise and Transformation of Kranti Gaud

Big inswing, bigger dreams: The rise and transformation of Kranti Gaud
image source : cricbuzz

Former MP coach Shweta Mishra remembers those days clearly. “The Kranti you see now is not the same one I met three years ago,” she said. It took hours of training, trust, and mental conditioning to polish her talent. Mishra worked on her run-up, release point, and accuracy — turning her wild pace into controlled fire. Through intense corridor bowling drills, the rise and transformation of Kranti Gaud started taking true shape, session by session.

Gradually, her control improved, and with it, her confidence. In the 2023–24 domestic season, the rise and transformation of Kranti Gaud reached a breakthrough when she led Madhya Pradesh to victory in the Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy final against Bengal. Her inswingers dismantled top batters, including India star Richa Ghosh, earning her the Player of the Match award.

Her success didn’t go unnoticed. The rise and transformation of Kranti Gaud continued at the Women’s Premier League auction when the UP Warriorz signed her for ₹10 lakh. Soon after, she stunned everyone with a spell of 4 for 25 against Delhi Capitals, dismissing stars like Meg Lanning, Shafali Verma, and Jemimah Rodrigues. That performance announced her arrival on the big stage.

Just weeks later, the rise and transformation of Kranti Gaud reached another milestone — her maiden India call-up. Her brother drove her through the night for her early-morning flight after she got the news at 10 PM. Although wicketless on debut, she bounced back with a record 6/52 in England, proving that her hard work and precision had paid off.

Her inswing has become her signature — nine of her first 20 ODI wickets have been bowled or LBW. Each delivery reflects the hours of practice she invested to perfect her lines and lengths. In just nine months, the rise and transformation of Kranti Gaud took her from domestic cricket to the World Cup stage.

Back home, her village that once doubted her now beams with pride. After her England tour, the local government even gifted her a two-acre plot of land. On World Cup nights, the same villagers who once questioned her now gather to watch the rise and transformation of Kranti Gaud on a projector screen.

Her story is not just about wickets or records; it’s about courage and perseverance. As her coach Mishra said, “She turned her struggles into motivation. The Kranti who once doubted herself now stands tall as an India cricketer.”

Indeed, the rise and transformation of Kranti Gaud is more than a sporting journey — it’s a tale of belief, resilience, and inspiration that reminds every small-town dreamer that no background is too humble and no dream too big.

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