WPL: RCB All Rounder Gautami Naik Gets Video Surprise From Idol Hardik Pandya
RCB all rounder Gautami Naik was left emotional after India star Hardik Pandya congratulated her on RCB’s win and her maiden WPL half-century.
India, Jan 20 : Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all rounder Gautami Naik received a heartwarming surprise from her cricketing idol, India’s star all rounder Hardik Pandya, following RCB’s emphatic victory over Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 on Monday.
RCB sealed their place in the WPL playoffs with a commanding 32-run win over Gujarat Giants, extending their unbeaten run to five matches. The defending champions have been in imperious form, remaining the only team unbeaten in the tournament so far.
After the match, Gautami spoke about her admiration for Hardik Pandya, describing him as her biggest inspiration and a role model in pressure situations. She said she closely follows his approach to the game and hopes to contribute to RCB in a similar all-round capacity.
Moments later, Gautami was handed a phone and shown a surprise video message from Pandya himself. In the clip, the Indian all-rounder congratulated her on her maiden WPL half-century and praised her journey, encouraging her to stay disciplined, enjoy the game, and continue performing for her franchise and the country.
Overwhelmed by the gesture, Gautami expressed her joy and disbelief, calling it a defining moment in her career. She said receiving encouragement from her idol made her feel that she had truly achieved something special.
Gautami also conveyed her wishes to Pandya for the upcoming T20 World Cup, expressing hope that he would lead India to another global triumph. She reiterated her dream of meeting him in person and continuing to draw inspiration from his journey as a cricketer and athlete.
