Indian women&rsquo;s team <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/gaud-too-good-23639371" rel="nofollow">pacer Kranti Gaud</a>&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;s Honours Board. All centurions and five-wicket takers have their names etched on the prestigious board.
<img title="Rajiv Bilthare" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jul/India-pacer-Kranti-Gaud-(le_e.jpg" alt="Rajiv Bilthare" width="1280" height="720" />Rajiv Bilthare
However, Gaud&rsquo;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.&nbsp;
&ldquo;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&rsquo;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.&rsquo; 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,&rdquo; Bilthare told mid-day over the phone from Chhatarpur on Sunday. &nbsp;&nbsp;
Bilthare also sought help from MP team coach Bhawna Shrivastava and Chhattisgarh team coach Shweta Mishra to convince Gaud.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Kranti&rsquo;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 <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/odi-womens-world-cup-2025-heres-why-deepti-sharma-deserves-the-player-of-the-tournament-award-23601721" rel="nofollow">Women&rsquo;s ODI Trophy</a> in December 2024. She has not looked back since,&rdquo; Bilthare explained.

However, Gaud’s childhood coach, Rajiv Bilthare, has revealed that she had considered quitting cricket a couple of years ago.

Gaud nearly quit cricket in 2024, says childhood coach Bilthare

England outplayed us in all departments: Shreyas Iyer

However, Gaud’s childhood coach, Rajiv Bilthare, has revealed that she had considered quitting cricket a couple of years ago

Gaud nearly quit cricket in 2024, reveals childhood coach Bilthare

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