The highlight of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 was the incredible all-around performance of pace sensation Kranti Gaud in a wild match that saw India extend their undefeated ODI streak against bitter rivals Pakistan. Although India won by a resounding 88 runs, their dominance was built on a period of outstanding bowling that will be remembered for years to come.
Not only did Gaud win Player of the Match for her outstanding bowling figures of 10 overs, 3 maidens, 20 runs, 3 wickets, and 2.00 economy, but she also methodically destroyed the Pakistani chase. In a surface that provided some help, her disciplined, sharp seam bowling, which regularly tested the Pakistani top and middle order, was all but unplayable.
Kranti Goud vs Pakistan Women’s Batters
The mood of the entire innings was set by Kranti Gaud’s opening explosion. Gaud promptly removed the vital wicket of Sadaf Shamas with a sharp caught-and-bowled after opener Muneeba Ali was dismissed in a dramatic and contentious run-out. After that, she took the valuable wicket of Aliya Riaz, which left Pakistan reeling at 26/3. Pakistan was prevented from gaining momentum by this early triple strike, which made the 248 target appear unachievable.
Her spell was brilliant because it was concise. In a World Cup match, three maidens in ten overs highlight her extraordinary control. Gaud exerted constant pressure by halting the run flow, which made the batters make mistakes. Even though Sidra Amin and Natalia Pervaiz put together a strong 69-run partnership to give Pakistan a brief reprieve, Gaud’s second spell dealt the final blow, dismissing Pervaiz for 33. Any remaining hopes for the chasing side were dashed at this moment, which was the last nail in the coffin.
Kranti Goud Contribution With The Bat
In the final overs of the Indian innings, Kranti Gaud made a fiery cameo with the bat, but her bowling was the game-winning move. She came in late and hit a devastating 200.00 strike rate, smashing a fast-paced 8 runs off just 4 balls, including 2 fours. Richa Ghosh’s strong late hitting and this minor but impactful blitz helped propel India’s total to a respectable 247, giving the bowlers a vital buffer.
Turning Points Of The Match
Muneeba Ali’s Controversial Run-Out (Pakistan’s Innings, Fourth Over):
Early on, Pakistan’s pursuit was thwarted by this hotly contested and chaotic moment. After an unsuccessful LBW appeal, opener Muneeba Ali, who had attempted to lead the innings, was run out by a hard direct hit from Deepti Sharma.
Because Muneeba’s bat was briefly in the air when the stumps were struck, the third umpire’s initial flash of “Not Out” was reversed to “Out” following a second check, which sparked the controversy. Pakistan was at 18/1 after being dismissed for 2 runs, which caused a lot of confusion and stopped their momentum at the beginning of the chase.
Kranti Gaud’s Devastating Spell:
The young Indian bowler Kranti Gaud, who finished with figures of 3/20 and was named Player of the Match, destroyed Pakistan’s top order with a pivotal spell.
She promptly got rid of Aliya Riaz (caught at slip) and Sadaf Shamas (caught and bowled), leaving Pakistan reeling at 26/3. Pakistan struggled to recover from the tremendous pressure this created.
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