New Delhi, June 23: The Indian women’s cricket team is currently in England for the T20 World Cup 2026. Among them is 22-year-old right-arm fast bowler Kranti Gaud, whose journey to the national team is filled with struggles. Hailing from Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh, Kranti shared her inspiring story during an interview with GeoStar.
“I never dreamed of playing cricket at this level,” Kranti said. “I come from a village where girls are not even allowed to step outside freely. They face criticism and negativity when trying to pursue their interests.”
She added, “I have always heard that those who work hard never lose. I kept pushing forward. I practiced bowling, learned continuously, and maintained my belief. I didn’t let the noise around me distract me. I worked tirelessly, and now I am here, representing my country in the T20 World Cup. Reaching this stage makes me feel that all my hard work has paid off.”
Reflecting on her parents’ sacrifices, Kranti stated, “If your family supports you, the opinions of others don’t matter. People outside often don’t provide support. My parents were different; they always stood by me. They never let me feel like I was doing something wrong. They believed in my dreams, and that support changed everything.”
She continued, “This gave me the strength to keep moving forward and pursue my goals. When you know your family is with you, it becomes easier to ignore the outside world. I am grateful for their unwavering support throughout this journey. There were many challenges, including financial struggles. My mother sold her jewelry to buy me a good cricket kit. That was a huge sacrifice. My family has done so much for me, and it made me feel responsible. I want to give back to them and honor their sacrifices.”
Kranti also mentioned that her performance in the One Day World Cup led to the establishment of a cricket academy in her village, Ghuwara. “Many young girls are now coming to play cricket there. It’s a proud moment for me. Parents are starting to trust their daughters and believe they can build a career in this sport. I regularly meet these girls, and I just want them to achieve whatever goals they set for themselves.”
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