Kranti Goud , 22, was informed of her India debut at the R Premadasa Stadium in May 2025 . She had largely been picked as an apprentice, with India waiting on two senior players - Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar , both injured and in rehab.

It was an unremarkable debut, for figures of 5-0-22-0. But among the many things she did right was hitting Chamari Athapaththu, a ferocious puller of the cricket ball, on her ribs. That tiny moment, lost amid Smriti Mandhana's century and Sneh Rana's four-for, encouraged India's selectors to take a punt on her for the England tour.

When she picked up a six-for in Durham , hooping the ball and leaving England's top order gasping en route to an impressive series victory, it was fairly evident Goud had sealed her World Cup spot, irrespective

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