Indian women's cricket team pacer Kranti Gaud has not forgotten the sacrifices her parents made to support her career, and she aims to repay their faith by performing well at the ongoing T20 World Cup in Manchester. Gaud, who hails from Ghuwara village in Madhya Pradesh, recalled how her mother sold her jewellery to buy a proper cricket kit for her.
Family Support Amid Financial Struggles
Gaud emphasized the importance of family backing in overcoming societal and financial hurdles. "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.
Her mother's sacrifice was a pivotal moment. "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," she said.
Breaking Barriers in Her Village
Gaud's entry into Indian cricket has sparked change in her village. "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," she noted.
She also highlighted the broader societal shift: "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. 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."
Focused on Bangladesh Clash
India face a crucial World Cup match against Bangladesh, needing a win to stay in contention for the semifinals. Gaud is determined to give her best. "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.
