In a very thrilling 2025 Maharashtra Women’s Premier League (WMPL) match between the Solapur Smashers and Ratnagiri Jets in Thane, Sharayu Kulkarni made a big impact with her celebration. The young bowler dismissed Ratnagiri Jets captain Smriti Mandhana, who is one of the biggest stars of women's cricket, for just one run off four balls in the first over, with Kulkarni bowling the first ball in the over. Kulkarni, playing for Solapur Smashers, delivered a great ball, resulting in Mandhana being caught behind leg-side by Damini Bankar, which sparked an unbelievable moment on the field. 

Kulkarni celebrated perfectly, like Rishabh Pant, with Pant's trademark somersault. The on-field celebration, along with the crowd's excitement, caused the breakout on social media, with fans loving the energy and making comparisons to Pant's style. Kulkarni also produced a very good performance, with two wickets for 33 runs in three overs, outshining some formidable batters.

A Viral Moment in WMPL 2025

The Solapur Smashers' disciplined and aggressive bowling attack, led by Kulkarni, restricted the Ratnagiri Jets to 120 runs in 20 overs on a batting-friendly surface. When Kulkarni got Mandhana out early, it shifted the game’s momentum into the Smashers’ favor. The umpire called it a wide ball initially, but Mandhana still showed incredible sportsmanship by walking off the pitch on her own volition. Kulkarni's somersault celebration was reminiscent of Pant's celebration mania. It awed fans in the stands and people on social media. 

Watch the video here

Sharayu Kulkarni in WMPL celebrated in Rishabh Pant style after dismissing Smriti Mandhana.

- Global Star Rishabh Pant ❤️🐐 pic.twitter.com/nywJKxc5bR

— RP17 Gang™ (@RP17Gang) June 6, 2025

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Although Kulkarni's celebration was viral, she had an important role to play. Kulkarni, along with Mukta Magre, took 2 wickets, while Aarti Kedar and Aachal Agarwal took 3 wickets each for the Smashers and continued to dominate their opponents. The match showed Kulkarni’s potential as a young star in women’s cricket. she showed excellent ability, skill, and showmanship. Her Pant inspired celebration brought excitement to the crowd and established her as a player to watch going into the 2025 season of the WMPL.