HARDIK PANDYA SENDS GAUTAMI NAIK A SPECIAL MESSAGE AFTER WPL FIFTY

Hello Everyone! Star Indian Men's Team all-rounder Hardik Pandya surprised Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Women player Gautami Naik with a special message following her match-winning fifty against Gujarat Giants (GG) in the 12th match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 season. Gautami, an uncapped Indian player, achieved her maiden WPL fifty, scoring 73 runs off 55 balls, which contributed to RCB's fifth consecutive win, keeping them unbeaten in the tournament. In a video shared on RCB's Instagram account, Gautami expressed that Hardik Pandya is her cricketing idol and she aspires to emulate his style of play. She mentioned that she closely observes his performances, especially in pressure situations, and admires his calm demeanor on the field. To her astonishment, Pandya congratulated her in a video message, expressing his honor at being her idol. He encouraged her to maintain discipline, enjoy the game, and continue excelling for her franchise and the country. Gautami reacted to the video with immense joy, calling it a significant milestone in her life. She expressed gratitude towards Pandya, praising his skills and character, and shared her desire to meet him and play like him. She also wished him success for the T20 World Cup 2026, hoping he would lead India to victory. In her words, she stated that receiving a message from her idol felt like an achievement, and she expressed her admiration for him both as a player and as a person. In the match, RCB secured a dominant victory over Gujarat Giants by 61 runs, maintaining their perfect record in the WPL 2026. Batting first, RCB scored 178/6 in 20 overs, with Gautami's impressive 73 runs being a key highlight. Contributions from Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh aided RCB in recovering from an early collapse. The GG team struggled in their chase, collapsing to 5/3 early on, and despite a fighting 54 from Ash Gardner, they finished at 117/8 in 20 overs. Sayali Sathghare was the standout bowler for RCB, taking 3 wickets for 21 runs. Thanks, for watching JMBDD News.