Sweet gesture: Hardik Pandya gifts bat to budding woman cricketer Kashvee Gautam

Dubai: Fast bowler woman all-rounder Kashvee Gautam had a surprise of her life when she was gifted a bat by her idol Hardik Pandya during the Women's Premier League match.

Kashvee made her WPL debut in the 2025 season with Gujarat Giants and played nine matches. She claimed 11 wickets and also scored 43 runs. The 21-year-old was the leading wicket-taker for her franchise in the tournament.

Her performance bagged her maiden India call-up for the tri-nation One-day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka and South Africa starting at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on April 27. India will take on Sri Lanka women in the opening match on April 27.

Kashvee's second meeting with Pandya happened at the Arun Jaitely Stadium here ahead of the Mumbai Indians' Sunday match against the Delhi Capitals. The MI captain congratulated Kashvee for her maiden India call-up and wished her luck for the future.