How barefoot village girl Kranti Goud, daughter of a sacked cop and youngest of six siblings, became India's cricket star
, a 21-year-old fast bowler from Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district, helped India clinch the women's ODI series against England with a stunning 6/52 in the final match. The performance marked her first five-wicket haul in One Day Internationals and turned the spotlight on her journey from hardship to the national stage.
A life shaped by early struggle
Goud grew up in Ghuwara, a tribal-majority village in rural Bundelkhand, as the youngest of six siblings. She dropped out after class 8. Her father Munna Singh, a former police constable in Madhya Pradesh, was dismissed from service in 2012 during election duty. The family was forced to leave their official residence and shift into a rented home.
Her eldest brother Mayank left school to work. 'We were in a lot of trouble,' he said. 'There were days we didn't have proper meals. People mocked us for letting Kranti pursue cricket, but somehow we held on.'
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Coaching support despite odds
In 2017, Goud joined the Sai Cricket Academy in Chhatarpur under coach Rajiv Bilthare. He recalled her first day at the academy. 'She came in worn-out clothes and regular shoes,' he said. 'Her father was jobless. Her family had nothing. I didn't charge her any fees. I gave her shoes, uniform, and even bought her gear.'
Bilthare added: 'I gave her Rs 1,600 to buy cricket spikes. She lit up. Said it felt like a dream.'
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First off-field milestone
Goud recently signed her first personal sponsorship deal with an international shoe brand. She plans to use the opportunity to support other girls at her academy who come from similar backgrounds. 'It's time for me to give back to society,' she said. 'I want to buy a house for my family. That's first. But I also want girls at our academy to play without worrying about money. My assistance will help them focus on the game.'
On-field progress continues
Goud made her ODI debut against Sri Lanka on May 11 and earned her T20I cap against England on July 12. She plays domestic cricket for Madhya Pradesh and represents UP Warriorz in the Women's Premier League.
Her aim now is to ensure no young cricketer is held back due to lack of resources—one pair of spiked shoes at a time.
Kranti shines in just her fourth ODI
In only her fourth One Day International match, 21-year-old Kranti Goud delivered a match-winning spell of 6 for 52, helping India secure a 13-run victory and clinch the series against England at Chester-le-Street in Durham. Her performance followed a century by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored 102 off 84 balls. Kaur shared her Player of the Match award with Goud and gave her a signed ball with a personal message.
Standout performances at every level
Kranti took nine wickets in the three-match series against England, with an average of 15.11. Before her India call-up, she played in all age-group tournaments for Madhya Pradesh and helped the state win the National Women's Championship, taking four wickets in the final, including that of India keeper-batter Richa Ghosh.
'She can bat well too. She's a disciplined player and understands the value of what she has,' Bilthare said.
Recognised for her work ethic
Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association secretary Sanjeev Rao said, 'This is how dreams are made. She has literally come up from nowhere. Her story should motivate every single girl who aspires to play for India one day.'
He also credited the MP Cricket Association's scouting system. 'I must credit our association for sending talent spotters to every small district and village.'
Support from top domestic coaches
Kranti was also coached by Chandrakant Pandit, who leads both Madhya Pradesh and Kolkata Knight Riders. 'She worked hard day and night and improved her bowling within a year. There's something about her bowling—a fire in her belly, a passion that helped her rise fast,' Pandit said.
Pandit spotted her during open trials in Indore when she was 17. 'Her run-up and smooth action stood out. A couple of years ago, she stopped bowling due to back issues, but after I scolded her, she returned to bowling. She's also a brilliant fielder.'
Impact of Women's Premier League
Kranti was a net bowler for Mumbai Indians for a few years before UP Warriorz picked her up in the WPL auction last year for ₹10 lakh. 'At the time, she hadn't played a senior T20 match, but our scouts saw her potential,' said Kshemal Waingankar, COO of UP Warriorz. 'She could move the ball both ways and had a sharp bouncer. We backed her, and now she's playing for India just months later.'
Coach Bilthare added, 'She has received sponsorship from Puma. She's playing for India and in the WPL. She doesn't have to worry about finances now.'
(Inputs from TOI)
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