WPL: Kashvee Gautam of Gujarat Giants Sets Sights on National Team Return

New Delhi, Feb 13 (NationPress) The forthcoming third edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), commencing this Friday, provides a vital opportunity for Indian players seeking selection for the national team.

Kashvee Gautam, an all-rounder specializing in fast-bowling for Gujarat Giants (GG), is poised to gain significant attention within the Indian cricket landscape. She garnered recognition in 2020 by taking ten wickets in a single innings, including a hat-trick, during an Under-19 one-day match for Chandigarh.

In December 2023, she became the most expensive uncapped Indian cricketer in the history of WPL, securing a contract worth Rs 2 crore prior to the 2024 season. However, due to a stress fracture in her left foot's toe, Kashvee was unable to participate in WPL 2024.

She eventually returned to action in the 2024/25 Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy, where she claimed seven wickets across six matches for Chandigarh.

As the GG prepares to kick off their WPL 2025 season against the reigning champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Vadodara, Kashvee's capability to bowl at high speeds and finish games effectively is anticipated to be a major asset for the team this season.

“Last year, I spent some time with the team in Bangalore. I realized what I was missing and how I could contribute. After my recovery, I focused on improving my range hitting, looking for scoring opportunities both in front and behind the wicket. I've also developed new bowling variations, as precision is crucial in the WPL,” Kashvee shared with IANS.

With a new coaching lineup, excluding head coach Michael Klinger, and a fresh captain in Ashleigh Gardner, Kashvee believes the team has united well to improve upon their previous finishes at the bottom of the WPL standings.

“The team is in good shape. We’ve built strong bonds since last year, and it feels like we've been playing together for ages despite coming from different domestic teams,” she remarked.

“WPL has significantly influenced women’s cricket, with players competing at high intensity even in domestic leagues. The increase in range hitting is beneficial for India, leading to the emergence of talented finishers, batters, and bowlers. Women’s cricket is gaining visibility,” Kashvee added.

Nagesh Gupta, her coach at the Zirakpur cricket academy, emphasized their rigorous training on death-over bowling and finishing skills. “Currently, her rhythm is strong, so we focused on enhancing her death-over bowling, which is critical during the slog overs. After her injury, her swing has improved, and we’ve worked extensively on her batting,” he explained.

At one point, Kashvee was on the verge of joining the Indian national team, being part of the India A squad that won the Emerging Women’s Asia Cup and participating in a series against England A. Gupta recollected how everything was on track for Kashvee until her injury sidelined her for WPL 2024.

Keeping Kashvee motivated during her recovery was challenging for Gupta. She overcame tough phases when her performance dipped and facilities were lacking, but the injury was particularly hard to navigate. “God has his own plans. It was a tough period for both of us. She had been preparing for the WPL, and missing such a significant opportunity was disappointing. We aimed to keep her motivated through this challenging time,” Gupta reflected.

Growing up in Chandigarh, Kashvee explored various sports, including skating, badminton, and football, but cricket was her true passion—she would wake up at 5 AM to play gully cricket with boys. Gupta has coached her since 2017, when she first represented Punjab, and she now captains the Chandigarh team.

During her time away from WPL 2024, Kashvee received strong support from her family, including her housewife mother, her father who works as a property dealer, her aunt, and her younger sister, who is preparing for her 12th-grade exams.

“My parents have always encouraged me, never discouraging me from pursuing cricket. Even through ups and downs, they’ve always motivated me to work hard and never quit. They provide me with constant support, calling me before games to help ease my nerves,” she stated.

Kashvee draws significant inspiration from Hardik Pandya, the Indian men’s fast-bowling all-rounder, due to their similar skills. Her admiration for Pandya is profound, even prompting her to get tattoos in his honor.

Despite the setback of missing WPL 2024, Kashvee has demonstrated resilience similar to Pandya’s in recovering from injury and is now focused on regaining her place in the national spotlight through stellar all-round performances for GG in WPL 2025.