Every cricketer who walks through the gates of Lord’s carries the same dream. Some dream of a century, others of a five-wicket haul, but all of them know what those achievements mean at the Home of Cricket—a place on the iconic Lord’s Honours Board. It is one of the game’s most exclusive clubs, reserved for performances that become part of cricketing folklore. On the second day of the historic one-off Test between India and England, 22-year-old Kranti Gaud turned that dream into reality.
The young fast bowler from a small town in Madhya Pradesh claimed a magnificent 5/37 in 17 overs as England were bowled out for 170 in reply to India’s 285, handing India a crucial 115-run first-innings lead. It was only the second Test of her career, yet by the end of the afternoon, her name was destined to sit alongside some of the greatest bowlers to have played at Lord’s.
What makes the feat even more remarkable is that Gaud had spoken about the Honours Board before the Test had even begun. Like countless cricketers before her, she had arrived at Lord’s with one clear ambition. “Lord’s Honours Board is very famous because the name of the person who scores five wickets is noted on the board. We are also very excited to take five wickets and get our name on the board,” she had said on the eve of the match.
On the morning of Day 2, with England about to continue their first innings, the thought hadn’t left her mind. Sitting quietly in the dressing room, she found herself looking towards the famous wooden boards that line the Lord’s pavilion. “Today when I was sitting in the dressing room, I looked towards the board and thought, ‘Today is our second day and I have to get my name written on it today.’ I stared at the board for about five minutes before heading down to the field.” It was a simple moment of reflection, but it would soon become the defining image of her day.
England’s innings never truly settled against India’s disciplined attack, and Gaud was at the heart of it. She made the first breakthrough on Day 1 itself by trapping Tammy Beaumont lbw for 2(7) before returning on Day 2 to dismiss Maia Bouchier for 23(52), leaving England under early pressure. Sayali Satghare compounded the hosts’ troubles by removing Heather Knight for 6(25), reducing England to 32/3.
The resistance came from captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, who fought patiently for 44(85), and wicketkeeper Amy Jones, whose fluent 52(62) kept England in the contest through a valuable middle-order partnership. Gaud trapped Sciver-Brunt in front. She later admitted it was the wicket she treasured most. Gaud went on to dismiss Alice Capsey for 9(13) and Lauren Bell for 3(13) to complete her maiden Test five-wicket haul, finishing with outstanding figures of 17-7-37-5.
As memorable as the spell itself was, the emotions that followed perhaps told the bigger story. The first person Gaud wanted to speak to was not a teammate or coach, but her family back home. “You know how it is wanting to call someone in the family first, so I called my elder brother. He’s so happy and the whole family too. Looking at it today from where I come from, everyone there must be feeling so proud of me. They trusted me. They supported me all the way from such a small village and sent me here.”
Before the Test, her elder brother had also reminded her what a five-wicket haul at Lord’s would mean, asking whether she could get her name on the Honours Board. Gaud had confidently replied that she would. Just days later, she delivered on that promise.
Even after scripting history, Gaud’s thoughts drifted back to where it all began. “Whenever I achieve something this significant, my mind instantly goes back to the first tournament in my village. This performance goes out to all the people of Ghuwara and everyone who organised that tournament. This was for everyone and, of course, for India too.”
Years from now, countless cricketers will walk through the Lord’s pavilion and glance up at the Honours Boards. The first woman’s name they will see there will be Kranti Gaud. A revolution was always in her name, now it is part of Lord’s history too.
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