India women's cricketer Kranti Gaud paid a visit to all-rounder Hardik Pandya at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Pandya marked the occasion by presenting her with a signed jersey and organising a birthday celebration for her during the visit.
Gaud documented the meeting on Instagram, captioning her pictures, 'Thank you so much bhaiya'. The post drew considerable attention and highlighted the warmth of the exchange between the two cricketers at the facility.
Gaud's admiration for Pandya and the World Cup moment
Pandya has been stationed at the BCCI Centre of Excellence since June 30, 2026, becoming the first centrally contracted Indian cricketer to establish it as his permanent training base. He uses the facility during all periods when he is not on national, IPL or domestic duty. At the time of Gaud's visit, Pandya was also working his way back from a quadriceps injury that had kept him out of India's white-ball tour of the United Kingdom.
Gaud has made no secret of the role Pandya has played in shaping her ambitions as a cricketer. Earlier in 2026, she said in a video, 'Hardik Pandya has been my idol. I want to be a cricketer like him', underlining how central a figure he has been as she progressed to the international stage. She has consistently described him as among her foremost inspirations throughout her development in the game.
That admiration was on full display after India's ICC World Cup triumph, when Gaud recreated Pandya's trademark victory celebration on the pitch. She placed the World Cup trophy on the ground and copied his celebration, producing an image that circulated widely from India's title festivities.
Gaud's rise through the ranks
She has played 33 matches across formats and has taken 42 wickets. She made her debut against Sri Lanka Women in 2025. Her best figures in ODI came against England Women in Chester-le-Street where she finished with the figures of 6/52. In Women's Premier League, she has played 16 games for UP Warriorz and has taken nine wickets.