Kranti Gaud Registers Highest Score By Indian No. 11 Across Men's And Women's T20Is

Kranti Gaud scored 15*(8) vs Thailand [Source: BCCI Women/X.com]

Fast bowler Kranti Gaud was in the thick of things with the bat in India's opening match of the Women's Asia Cup 2026, as they took on Thailand in Dubai.

Known for her effective new-ball bowling, Kranti Gaud was required to step up with the bat and add some crucial runs after a middle-order capitulation in the evening. With this score of 15*(8), she entered the record books, registering the highest score by an Indian no. 11 batter across men's and women's T20Is. 

Kranti Gaud's valiant cameo vs Thailand creates history

Being the bona fide number 11 of the India Women's team, 23-year-old Kranti Gaud walked in to bat in the 18th over of the Indian innings against Thailand. Her main objective was to play out the whole 20 overs and take India to a respectable total after a collapse.

She ended up batting till the final ball and scored an unbeaten 15 off 8 at a strike rate of 187.50, with a four and a six in Thipatcha Putthawong's final over.

This knock will go down in the history books across men's and women's cricket, as Kranti became the number 11 batter with the highest individual score in the format. 

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Highest scores for India's number 11 batters (men's and women's T20Is)

No male or female Indian number 11 had previously gone into the double figures in the two-decade T20I history. She went past the previous best of 7*(3) recorded by her non-striker, Shree Charani earlier this year.

Kranti Gaud saves India from embarrassment

Having played at the venue earlier in the week, Thailand won the toss on the night against India and opted to bowl first. Despite a quick-fire start from the opening batters, Smriti Mandhana got run out at 19(10), followed by 22(18) from Pratika Rawal.

Only Shafali Verma was able to hold on to an end and go past fifty, as she finished with 64 off 36 to her name, with 8 fours and 3 sixes. Apart from Verma, no middle-order batter was able to step up, and five dismissals came with batters in single-digit scores, including a golden duck for Richa Ghosh.

India went from 127/5 to 137/9 within a span of 2.2 overs, and two tailenders, Shree Charani and Kranti Gaud, needed to stick around for the slog overs.

Gaud did not disappoint and started her knock cautiously, before dispatching Thipatcha Putthawong for a six to take the team past 150 and subsequently scored another four on the final ball of the innings. With this, India were able to get to finish at a respectable 159.

Kranti Gaud could be the unique profile India Women have been looking for

Throughout India Women's history, the team has struggled with lower-order collapses. Right from the infamous 2017 World Cup final collapse, where India went from 196/4 to 219 all-out while chasing 229 to the recent India vs Australia ODI in Vizag, when India got were 309/5 and got bowled out for 330 runs, the Women in Blue have borne the brunt of their vulnerable tail. 

All such collapses end up defining matches, especially at crucial moments. Hence, someone like Kranti Gaud developing her batting would provide a massive boost to the Indian lower-order. This is something the powerhouse women's teams over the years have worked on and reaped rewards for.

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