By Admin 
Kranti Goud adds more teeth to the Indian attack. She looks the real deal in pace bowling. Someone the Women in Blue have badly needed for some time now.
The 22-year-old on Wednesday night took three wickets to play an important role in India’s remarkable 102-run victory against Australia in the second ODI at New Chandigarh. She sent back the Australian captain Alyssa Healy early and then came back to mop up the tail.
Kranti had taken the wicket of the dangerous Healy in the first ODI on the same ground as well. She proved a worthy foil to Renuka Singh, who has made a welcome return from injury. The new ball now holds promise for the co-host at the World Cup, starting on September 30.
Kranti, who could move the ball at good pace, had hit headlines when she took six wickets in India’s 13-run win against England in the third ODI at Chester-le-Street a couple of months ago. It hasn’t taken the Madhya Pradesh bowler long to establish herself in the team; she had made her international debut only in May.
Shortly after helping India score what was its first win against Australia at home in 18 years, Kranti said her focus was to bowl to her strengths. “I keep it simple,” she said. “When I talk to the coach, he just tells me to bowl to my strengths. If I do that, I believe it becomes tougher for the batter.”
Kranti said she enjoyed watching Smriti Mandhana make a century (117 off 91 balls). The opener’s 12th ODI hundred ensured India had enough runs on the board to pose questions even to Australia’s star-studded batting line-up.
“Everyone is crazy about her batting,” Kranti said. “When Smriti bats, the whole stadium chants her name.. Now we are focusing on the final match in the series.”
It will be played here on Saturday.