Kranti Gaud Celebrates Birthday with Hardik Pandya at BCCI Centre of Excellence
Indian women’s cricketer Kranti Gaud celebrated her birthday alongside senior all-rounder Hardik Pandya at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, marking a special interaction between the emerging bowler and one of her primary sporting idols.
What Happened
Gaud paid a visit to Pandya at the Bengaluru facility, where the senior cricketer organised a birthday celebration for her and presented her with a signed jersey. Gaud later shared photographs from the interaction on Instagram with the caption, ‘Thank you so much bhaiya’.
Pandya has been stationed at the BCCI Centre of Excellence since June 30, 2026, making him the first centrally contracted Indian men’s player to adopt the facility as his permanent training headquarters. He trains there during breaks from national, domestic, and Indian Premier League duties. At the time of Gaud’s visit, Pandya was engaged in rehabilitation from a quadriceps injury that previously ruled him out of India’s white-ball tour of the United Kingdom.
Key Highlights
- Kranti Gaud met all-rounder Hardik Pandya at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on her birthday.
- Pandya gifted Gaud a signed jersey and arranged a birthday celebration for her at the facility.
- Gaud has previously described Pandya as her cricket idol, stating in an early 2026 video, ‘Hardik Pandya has been my idol. I want to be a cricketer like him.’
- Following India’s ICC World Cup victory, Gaud celebrated on the pitch by placing the trophy on the ground and mimicking Pandya’s signature pose.
- Pandya is using the Bengaluru centre as his permanent base while rehabilitating from a quadriceps injury.
- Gaud, who debuted internationally against Sri Lanka Women in 2025, has claimed 42 wickets across 33 international games, alongside 16 Women’s Premier League matches for UP Warriorz.
Why This Matters
The meeting reflects the bond between two generations of Indian cricketers training under the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) infrastructure. Gaud has publicly credited Pandya as a major inspiration behind her cricketing journey. Her emulation of his victory celebration during India’s ICC World Cup triumph brought significant attention to her admiration for the all-rounder, and this direct exchange at the national training base highlights the supportive environment within Indian cricket facilities.
What to Watch Next
Pandya continues his rehabilitation process at the Bengaluru facility following the quadriceps injury that kept him out of the UK tour. Meanwhile, Gaud continues her progression in international cricket and the Women’s Premier League after a solid start to her career across formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Kranti Gaud and Hardik Pandya meet?
They met at the BCCI Centre of Excellence located in Bengaluru, which serves as Pandya’s permanent training base outside of competitive match commitments.
What is Kranti Gaud’s record in international cricket and domestic leagues?
Since making her international debut in 2025 against Sri Lanka Women, Gaud has captured 42 wickets across 33 international matches, with a career-best ODI haul of 6/52 against England Women at Chester-le-Street. In the Women’s Premier League, she has played 16 matches for UP Warriorz, claiming nine wickets.
Why was Hardik Pandya at the BCCI Centre of Excellence?
Pandya established the BCCI Centre of Excellence as his permanent training hub on June 30, 2026, and was rehabilitating from a quadriceps injury that caused him to miss India’s white-ball tour of the United Kingdom.
Source: CricTracker