Kashvee Gautam was traveling in a bus returning from her practice session when her name was announced at the WPL auction center in Mumbai. Her co-passengers started making noise as the bid started. She tried to talk with her parents at home, but the call somehow disconnected.
Gujarat Giants were always keen on acquiring the all-rounder, but so were Royal Challengers Bangalore as the two entered a bidding war. The two franchises launched Kashvee’s price to ₹ 75 lakh within minutes, but that was not the case. UP Warriorz entered the battle royale.
Giants were adamant, but Warriorz gave a tough fight, finally giving up when the price reached ₹ 2 crore.
Everyone on the bus started congratulating Kashvee. A few of them started asking her for a party. She once again tried to reach her parents. She had a word with her father and it was then that she knew it was ₹ 2 crore.
“Once the bid was done, they were a bit emotional,” Kashvee recalled.
She was quite confident that one of the Giants or Warriorz would acquire her.
“I just wanted to play WPL, with whichever team possible. My trials for RCB, UP Warriorz, and Gujarat (Giants), all had been very good. I felt that one of UP or Gujarat would acquire me as my batting was really good in their trials,” Kashvee told CricketNext.
Kashvee, who hails from Chandigarh, had now become the most expensive uncapped player at a WPL Auction. She had fetched more money than India’s captain and her favourite Harmanpreet Kaur.
“It was unbelievable. I didn’t expect this huge bid. My season was good so I was expecting a bid, but never thought it would go this far. I did not have any reaction,” Kashvee said.
“The contract amount is definitely important, but the more important part is that I will get to play the WPL, I will get the exposure and I will have an opportunity to showcase my talent on such a platform. As challenging as it is, it is also a very good opportunity,” she added.
Kashvee was athletic right from her school days, as she would represent her school in athletics, skating, and volleyball as well as in inter-school competitions. But cricket, somehow, was always close to her heart.
“As far as cricket is concerned, I used to play gully cricket with boys. I was always attached to cricket. I had a good record in athletics but the heart always went towards cricket,” Kashvee narrated.
“So I knew how to bowl, I had an action. I also used to bat a little bit, I knew how to hit. So my interest in cricket started increasing. One of the selectors of my association is a neighbor. He referred me to my coach Nagesh Gupta. I joined his academy the next day itself.”
That is how Kahsvee’s professional journey with her long-time coach Nagesh Gupta commenced in 2015. Gupta added that Kahsvee’s neighbour happened to be his friend and a Ranji Trophy player who spotted her playing in the streets with boys.
“I am really happy, of course with the prize money, but I am happier that she has got a team. Money is important, but playing in the WPL is more important,” Gupta told CricketNext.
Gupta wants Kashvee to be an all-rounder and a power hitter for India, which the national side is currently bereft of.
“On the field, she is a very good all-rounder. She was always good at bowling, but in the last year, her batting has also picked up. She can be an impact player for any team, with lower-order big hitting.
“I always tell her to focus on her batting apart from her bowling. If you see the Indian white-ball team, we need a batter who can finish off matches. She has that ability to hit big sixes, so I always tell her that you have to bat and bat in tight situations. In the future also, I can see her playing for India and making great impact as an all-rounder,” proud coach Gupta said.
Gupta was also vocal about Kashvee’s work ethic.
“Off the field, no one works as hard as she does. She always wants to learn, and learn, and learn. She was always a natural talent, but with the kind of hard work she has put in, and a bit of technical coaching from me, we have been able to work on her accuracy. She is a student any coach would like to have.
Kashvee also shared an interesting anecdote from her time playing with neighboring boys and said that she would also be thought of as a boy because of her looks.
“Initially, because of my looks, people didn’t know if I was a girl or a boy when I played in the streets. They used to think I am a boy. They only knew that I am a girl when I was selected for the Under-19 women’s team and newspapers started to have my name.”
Kashvee will be shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the biggest names at Gujarat Giants and will train under the likes of Mithali Raj and Nooshin Al Khadeer. However, she is excited to play with the likes of Ashleigh Gardner.
“I am looking forward to playing with Ashleigh Gardner, as she is an all-rounder.”
As far as men’s cricket is concerned, Kashvee follows two cricketers.
“I look up to Bhuvneshwar Kumar. I still watch his bowling videos. Hardik Pandya is my favorite amongst all-rounders, Kashvee concluded.
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