In a beautiful display of mutual admiration and sporting spirit, Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya gifted a specially prepared bat to rising Indian all-rounder Kashvee Gautam ahead of her potential international debut.
Kashvee, who plays for Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), has made a name for herself as a promising all-rounder with both ball and bat. But beyond her on-field skills, she’s also known to be a massive admirer of Hardik Pandya—so much so that she has modeled her game on his.
This fan connection came to light during a WPL fixture earlier this year, when Pandya was spotted on the sidelines. Kashvee was with her Gujarat Giants teammate Harleen Deol, who casually mentioned something that caught Pandya’s attention:
“She’s a huge fan of yours—always imitating your style, and she’s even written ‘HP33’ on her bat.”
The revelation drew a smile from Pandya, who was visibly moved by the young cricketer’s admiration. Without any prompting or request from Kashvee herself, Pandya immediately offered to gift her a bat, one that would match her playing preferences. He asked with genuine interest:
“What bat weight do you usually use? I’ll get it shaved down to your preference and give you one. It was great meeting you—good luck!”
What followed was a warm, unforgettable moment. Kashvee’s delight was unmistakable, and the scene ended with her hugging Harleen, overwhelmed with joy.
True to his word, Pandya had one of his own bats customized—shaved down to 1100 grams, the exact weight Kashvee prefers—and presented it to her before Mumbai Indians’ match against Delhi Capitals. As he handed over the bat, he shared a message that reflected both encouragement and belief:
“Congratulations on your maiden India call-up! As promised, I brought the bat—it’s yours now. Take it, play your game, and if it doesn’t feel right, just let me know. Go out there, enjoy every moment, and make us proud. Play well for India. It’s really good to see you!”
This gesture added a personal chapter to Kashvee’s remarkable cricket journey. At just 21, she has already impressed on the big stage. She was Gujarat Giants’ leading wicket-taker in the 2023 WPL, finishing with 11 wickets in nine games at an economy rate of 6.45, while contributing vital runs with the bat. Unfortunately, a foot injury sidelined her from the 2024 edition, but her performances were strong enough to earn her a maiden call-up to the Indian team.
Kashvee was part of India’s triumphant U-23 squad that won the Emerging Asia Cup in 2023. Her ability to swing the ball and hit lower-order runs has filled a gap that Indian women’s cricket has been struggling to plug since the retirement of pace legend Jhulan Goswami. With Renuka Thakur, Titas Sadhu, Arundhati Reddy, and Pooja Vastrakar grappling with form and fitness, the door is wide open for a consistent medium-pacer like Kashvee to step up.
Notably, Kashvee first burst onto the scene at age 16 when she achieved the rare feat of taking all 10 wickets in a U-19 Plate Group match against Arunachal Pradesh—a record that instantly made headlines.
Now, with a tri-series against South Africa and Sri Lanka kicking off on April 27 and the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup looming later this year, Kashvee Gautam has a golden opportunity to shine on the international stage. And she’ll do it carrying not just her dreams, but a bat gifted by the very cricketer who inspired them.
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