Kranti Gaud strolled out of Lord's with more than just a Player of the Match award in her hands. The 22-year-old fast bowler made her mark by etching her name on the iconic honours board, fulfilling a dream she had always held close to her heart. With an impressive seven wickets throughout the match, she played a crucial role in leading India to a remarkable 270-run victory over England in the historic first-ever women's Test at Lord's. Gaud's performance included stunning figures of 5 for 37 in the first innings and 2 for 54 in the second, showcasing India's all-around dominance in this one-off Test in London. 

When she was asked whether she had ever imagined becoming Player of the Match at Lord's, Gaud admitted, “Growing up, I never imagined something like this would happen. But from the day this Test match began, I told myself that I wanted to get my name on the honours board.” 

That dream became reality after her first-innings five-wicket haul put England under pressure. 

How Kranti Gaud's Simple Approach Delivered a 5-fer at Lord's

Gaud mentioned that her bowling technique stayed pretty straightforward throughout the match, as she explained, “My approach is very simple. I just focus on my line and length. Whatever the coaches have told me, I try to follow that by hitting the same line and length consistently. That's what I was thinking about with every ball.”

This strategy paid off right away. Her opening spell was instrumental in reducing England to 47 for 4 in their first innings, and she ultimately bagged an impressive five-wicket haul. The wicket of England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt was particularly special for her, as it came at a pivotal moment and allowed India to quickly expose the lower order. On the batting side, India's players set a solid foundation for the bowlers. Smriti Mandhana scored 83 and 70 in the two innings, while Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma contributed crucial fifties in the first innings. Yastika Bhatia then made a fantastic 113, and Richa Ghosh wrapped things up with an unbeaten 50, setting England a daunting target of 457.

After the win, Gaud took home one of the stumps as a memento from the day. She shared that she keeps such treasures in a little museum at her home, and this particular stump from Lord's would always have a special spot there. For the young pacer and her family, it was a moment they intend to cherish for years to come.