India pacer Kranti Gaud has quickly established herself as a regular member of the national women's cricket team, but the journey to the top was anything but easy. The fast bowler from a small village in Madhya Pradesh says she remains deeply grateful for the unwavering support of her parents, whose sacrifices made her cricketing dream possible. As India fight for a place in the semifinals of the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup, Gaud hopes to repay their faith with strong performances on the field.
Gaud recalled the financial struggles her family endured during her formative years, revealing that her mother even sold her jewellery to buy her a proper cricket kit.
"If your family supports you, then what others say doesn't matter because those outsiders are not supporting you anyway. I am grateful to my family for standing by me through every step because there were a lot of problems. There was always a shortage of money," Gaud told JioStar.
The 22-year-old said those sacrifices continue to motivate her every time she represents India.
"My mother sold her jewellery to buy me a proper cricket kit. That was a huge sacrifice. My family was doing so much for me, and that made me feel responsible. I wanted to give something back to them. I wanted to make their sacrifice count."
Gaud also credited her parents for allowing her to pursue cricket at a time when many girls in her village did not have the same freedom.
"At that time, many girls were not even allowed to step out. But my parents were different. They never made me feel that I was doing something wrong. They believed in my dream," she said.
"It gave me the strength to keep going and keep chasing my goal. When you know your family is with you, the world outside becomes easier to ignore," she added.
Gaud's success has had an impact far beyond her own career. Her performances for India have inspired a new generation of girls in her hometown, leading to the establishment of a cricket academy and a shift in attitudes towards women taking up the sport professionally.
"Because of my performances for India in the ODI World Cup (in 2025), a cricket academy has opened up in Ghuwara village, where I hail from. Many young girls are now coming there to play cricket. That is a proud moment for me.
"Their parents are now trusting their daughters and believing that they can build a career in this sport. I meet these girls regularly. The World Cup win has played a huge role in this change," she noted.
Gaud is now focused on India's crucial T20 World Cup clash against Bangladesh in Manchester, a must-win encounter that will determine the team's chances of reaching the semifinals. The pacer said her approach remains simple—focus on her strengths and give her best with every delivery.
"I always think that I must give my 100 per cent. Whatever ball I bowl, I try to give my best. We keep working on new deliveries, but we focus more on our strengths, the deliveries that get us wickets," she said.
