It took Kranti Goud barely five months to move from “apprentice” tourist to automatic pick. On Saturday in Colombo, the 22-year-old right-arm seamer added 3 for 20 to the 1 for 41 she claimed on opening night, spearheading an 88-run victory over Pakistan and reinforcing the impression that India’s World Cup attack suddenly revolves around her.
Debut, then detour to Durham
Goud’s first cap came at the R Premadasa in May, a match memorable mainly for Smriti Mandhana’s hundred. Her own figures – 5-0-22-0 – appeared routine, yet one brisk delivery that thudded into Chamari Athapaththu’s ribs caught the selectors’ eye. With Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar both in rehab, they kept her on for England. A six-for at Chester-le-Street all but locked in her World Cup ticket even once Renuka regained fitness.
Early movement, simple plan
Pakistan walked into a new-ball storm. Goud began with three slips, a hint of away swing and minimal fuss. “The talk is about focusing on line and length only,” she explained afterwards. “I haven’t thought of doing much extra. Variations like bouncer or slower balls, those depend on the situation. The coaches told me to pull my lengths back a little based on the conditions and surface, that’s what I did.”
She was still bowling when the 12th over started to lose its shine. Harmanpreet Kaur, sensing the ball had softened, motioned Deepti Sharma out of the cordon. Goud politely resisted. “The ball was swinging early on, I couldn’t understand what was happening,” she laughed. “One ball came in a long way. Then when the ball was old, Harman wanted to take the slip off, but I said, ‘no didi, let’s keep the slip for this over.’” First ball, late nip, thick edge, Deepti did the rest; Aliya Riaz gone and India on their way.
Control at the death
Figures of 6-1-14-2 became 3 for 20 by the time Harmanpreet took her off, the captain later praising Goud’s “quiet authority”. Bowling coach Troy Cooley highlighted her repeatable action and a seam position that “gives her that quarter-ball of movement both ways”. Nothing flashy, but hard to line up.
Handy runs down the order
India had earlier slipped from 208 for 5 to 226 for 8 before Goud joined Richa Ghosh. The pair’s 21 off 15 nudged the total to a defendable 247. Goud’s eight came from four balls: a textbook cover-drive off Sadia Iqbal, then an improvised deflection past short fine off Diana Baig. “Richa told me, if there’s a ball to be hit, go for it. But if you’re not able to, just give me a single,” Goud said. “Because only a fe”
Village screens and rising expectations
Back in Ghuwara, a borrowed LED screen lit up the main square as neighbours watched their local hero dismantle Pakistan’s top order. Suresh Goud, her father, admitted the calls have become incessant: “People want tickets, selfies, stories; we just tell them to keep praying she stays fit.”
Room for growth
India’s medical staff remain cautious, restricting her spell lengths and recovery workloads. The captain, though, is already thinking longer term. “She swings it, she thinks on her feet and she can bat,” Harmanpreet noted. “If we look after her, she could lead this attack for a decade.”
Next up is South Africa on Tuesday, a line-up heavier on left-handers and intent on driving through the off side. Another examination awaits, but Goud’s methods are neither mysterious nor fragile: length, seam, repeat. For now, that is proving plenty.
