By Trisha Ghosal
Harmanpreet Kaur’s century at Chester-le-Street was spectacular, a captain’s innings at a time her team needed her most. It sealed the series for India and gave fans a moment to remember. But what followed, the Player of the Series announcement, felt like deja vu. Not because Harmanpreet doesn’t deserve acclaim, but because a young player, quietly producing gold across the series, was denied her moment in the sun. That player was Kranti Goud.
On her debut tour, she wasn’t just impressive. She was decisive. And she was ignored.
Kranti’s Spells Were Not Just Statistics — They Were Statements
Nine wickets in three matches. That’s what the scorebook says. But here’s what it doesn’t tell you.
It doesn’t tell you how Kranti’s inswingers wrecked England’s top order before they even had a chance to settle. It doesn’t capture the panic in the batters’ footwork as she angled the ball in at pace. It doesn’t tell you that she got Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones early, Nat Sciver-Brunt in her prime, Charlie Dean while counterattacking, and Davidson-Richards just as the match turned.
In the decider, England were at a strong position at 264/5. Enter Kranti. In a matter of overs, she’d flipped the match on its head. From “England favourites” to “India win”, her 6/52 was no cameo, it was the whole plot twist.
Also Read: ENG-W vs IND-W: India Women Clinch ODI Series with 13-Run Win in Decider
One Knock vs Three Matches of Brilliance
Now let’s be fair, Harmanpreet’s century was crucial. But before that? She had scores of 17 and 7. In both games, others did the heavy lifting: Deepti Sharma with the bat, Jemimah Rodrigues with calm maturity, and Smriti Mandhana with her usual grace.
Kranti, on the other hand, didn’t just show up for one game. She showed up every time she had the ball. She didn’t just take wickets. She opened the doors. She broke partnerships. She shifted momentum.
If that’s not Player of the Series material, what is?
The Name Game We Still Play
This isn’t about Harmanpreet. It’s about the value we attach to fame. Because let’s be honest if Kranti Goud were already a household name, would we even be having this conversation?
Cricket has always adored its batters. But if a 100 overshadows nine important scalps, if one performance is enough to erase two big games, then we need to ask: what game are we watching?
Bowling is a Craft. Start Rewarding It.
In a sport that leans towards the glory of fours and sixes, Kranti Goud bowled with grit, guile, and guts. She didn’t just take wickets — she took out England’s engine room. And yet, the medal didn’t come her way. Why?
Because she’s not yet a superstar? Because her impact wasn’t loud enough for the decision-makers?
The bigger question is this: Why should any young cricketer want to be a bowler, if the system itself refuses to recognise the craft?
Cricket doesn’t just need bowlers. It needs to respect them. And respect begins with recognition.
Kranti earned the title. She just didn’t have the name.
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