Gaud nearly quit cricket in 2024, reveals childhood coach Bilthare

Kranti Gaud after her five-wicket haul on Saturday. Pic/Bipin Patel

Indian women's team pacer Kranti Gaud's maiden fifer (5-37) on Saturday helped the visitors bundle out England for 170 and secure a commanding 115-run first-innings lead in the ongoing Test at Lord's.

It also ensured Ghuwara-based Gaud, 22, in only her second Test, became the first woman to have her name etched on the Lord's Honours Board. All centurions and five-wicket takers have their names etched on the prestigious board.

Rajiv Bilthare

However, Gaud's childhood coach, Rajiv Bilthare, has revealed that she had considered quitting cricket a couple of years ago. Gaud was just 13 when her father brought her to Sai Sports Academy for coaching in 2017.

"In 2018, Kranti played for the MP U-15 team and thanks to her performances, the MPCA [Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association] gave her a chance in the U-19 team too. However, she struggled from 2022 to 2024 while being part of both, the U-22 and senior women's teams, as she was not getting a place in the playing XI regularly. She was distraught and returned to home [Ghuwara], and did not come to the academy for 10 days. So, I went to her house to check on her and she said, 'Sir, nothing is going well and I don't want to play.' She had made up her mind to leave cricket. I convinced her, saying that every player, be it at the state or even international level, has witnessed such phases. I told her sternly that if she is scared then she should not come to the ground, but if she wants to achieve her dreams, I can help her," Bilthare told mid-day over the phone from Chhatarpur on Sunday.

Bilthare also sought help from MP team coach Bhawna Shrivastava and Chhattisgarh team coach Shweta Mishra to convince Gaud.

"Kranti's parents, MP team coach Bhawna and Chhattisgarh team coach Shweta also spoke to her and it worked. Kranti worked harder thereafter and made a strong comeback, taking four or five wickets against Bengal in the final to help MP win the Senior Women's ODI Trophy in December 2024. She has not looked back since," Bilthare explained.