'My mother sold her jewellery to buy me a cricket kit' - Kranti Gaud credits family sacrifices for her success

Indian pacer Kranti Gaud has overcome significant challenges and drawn strength from the sacrifices made by her parents to support her cricketing journey. Determined to repay their faith, she hopes to shine for India at the Women’s T20 World Cup.

Gaud, who hails from a small village in Madhya Pradesh, recalled how her mother sold her jewellery to buy a cricket kit and help keep her dream alive. The young fast bowler said those sacrifices continue to motivate her every day, and she is eager to make her family proud by delivering strong performances on the world stage.

"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. 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,” said Gaud to JioStar.

"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," she added.

Gaud's entry into Indian cricket has also brought significant changes to her village. A cricket academy has been established, and parents are now encouraging their daughters to pursue sports as a career. Now, Gaud is all set to take on Bangladesh in a crucial World Cup match in Manchester. India must win this encounter to keep their semifinal hopes alive.

"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,” said Gaud.

"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. 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 added.