Watch: Hardik Pandya sends special message to RCB player during WPL 2026

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who have already qualified for the WPL2026 playoffs, earned a new batting hero in each of their first five unbeaten games including Nadine de Klerk, Grace Harris, Radha Yadav, captain Smriti Mandhana, and against the Gujarat Giants on January 19, it was the most unexpected name- Gautami Naik, who played a sensational knock of 73 runs. 

Gautami Naik got the runs in just 55 balls at a strike rate of 132.73, thanks to her seven boundaries and one six. Meanwhile, the right-handed batter, after the end of the game, shared how he follows Hardik Pandya, the premier white-ball all-rounder of men’s cricket, as her idol.

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“OMG!! I just can’t express my feelings. Getting a message from my idol Hardik Pandya is special. I always want to copy him, and I want to bat like him all the time. I just love the way he goes into the middle and bats under pressure, keeping himself calm in that moment. That’s also my nature of playing. So, I try to keep myself in that same zone.” Gautami expressed that the video has gone viral

Hardik Pandya sends special message to Gautami Naik 

Gautami gets the special message video from Hardik, who spoke about feeling grateful for encouraging the young generation of players, besides congratulating the 27-year-old for her maiden half-century as the RCB side earned a vital 61-run win.

Watch the video here: 

“Hi Gautami. Hardik here. I got to know that I am your cricketing idol. First of all, it feels great to inspire a lot of young cricketers, and many congratulations on your first half-century. I just hope going forward in life, you do better for your franchise and your country. Keep playing the game, be disciplined, and keep enjoying.” Hardik mentioned in a personal video.  

“It wasn’t expected at all. It seems like I have achieved something in life at the moment. I surely want to meet him someday. To Hardik Sir, I love you as a player and hope you keep encouraging us in the same manner. And all the best for the upcoming T20 World Cup, where I hope to see you giving the best.” Gautami addressed.

Brief Scores: RCBW 178/6 (Gautami Naik 73, Richa Ghosh 27, Kashvee Gautam 2/38) beat GGW 117/8 (Ashleigh Gardner 54, Sayali Satghare 3/21, Nadine de Klerk 2/17) by 61 runs.