Hardik Pandya Sends Heartfelt Message to RCB's Gautami Naik After Her Stellar Performance

In an inspiring moment for young cricketer Gautami Naik, Hardik Pandya congratulated her on her maiden WPL fifty in a heartfelt video message. After leading RCB to victory against Gujarat Giants, Gautami expressed her admiration for Pandya, calling him her cricketing idol. She shared her joy at receiving his message and her aspirations to emulate his playing style. RCB's dominant performance in the match further solidified their unbeaten streak in the WPL 2026 season. Read on to discover more about this touching exchange and RCB's impressive win.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 20, 2026, 15:50 IST

Hardik Pandya's Surprise for Gautami Naik

In a delightful turn of events, Hardik Pandya, the all-rounder for the Indian Men's Team, surprised Gautami Naik, a player for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Women, with a special video message. This came after Gautami's impressive performance, where she scored a match-winning fifty against the Gujarat Giants (GG) in the 12th match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 season on Monday.

Gautami Naik's Maiden WPL Fifty

Gautami, an uncapped player, achieved her first WPL fifty by scoring 73 runs off 55 balls, leading RCB to their fifth consecutive victory in the tournament and maintaining their unbeaten streak. In a video shared on RCB's Instagram, she expressed her admiration for Hardik Pandya, stating that he is her cricketing idol and that she aspires to emulate his playing style.

Gautami's Admiration for Pandya

"Hardik Pandya is my cricketing idol. I aspire to play like him. I often watch his matches during tense moments, observing how he remains calm, which resonates with my own nature," Gautami shared, as reported by RCB.

Pandya's Encouraging Words

In a heartfelt video message, Pandya congratulated Gautami on her first half-century, expressing his honor at being her idol. He encouraged her to stay disciplined, enjoy the game, and continue to excel for her team and country. "Hi Gautami, Hardik here. I’m thrilled to know I inspire young cricketers. Congratulations on your first half-century! Enjoy the sport and keep striving for excellence," he stated.

Gautami's Joyful Reaction

Gautami was overwhelmed with joy upon receiving Pandya's message, calling it a significant milestone in her life. She expressed her gratitude towards him, praising his skills and character, and shared her desire to meet him. Additionally, she wished him success in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, hoping he leads India to victory. "This is a remarkable moment for me. Receiving a message from my idol feels like an achievement. I would love to meet you, Hardik sir, and I wish you all the best for the T20 World Cup!"

RCB's Dominant Performance Against Gujarat Giants

In the match against GG, RCB showcased their dominance by winning by 61 runs in Vadodara, marking their fifth consecutive win and securing the top position in the points table. RCB batted first, scoring 178/6 in 20 overs, with Gautami Naik's stellar 73 runs leading the charge. Contributions from Smriti Mandhana (26) and Richa Ghosh (27) helped stabilize the innings after an early setback. For GG, Ash Gardner and Kashvee Gautam each took two wickets.

Gujarat Giants' Struggles

In response, the Gujarat Giants faced early setbacks, losing wickets quickly to RCB's pace attack. Sayali Sathghare made significant contributions, taking two wickets in the second over, leaving GG struggling at 5/3 within three overs. Despite a resilient 54 from Ash Gardner, GG could only manage 117/8 in their 20 overs. Sayali was the standout bowler with figures of 3/21, supported by Nadine de Klerk (2/17) and Lauren Bell (1/23).