Kranti Gaud channels Hardik Pandya in iconic pose after India's World Cup triumph

Hardik Pandya and Kranti Goud. (Photo Source: Hardik Pandya/Kranti Goud/Instagram)

The Indian Women’s cricket team has created history by winning the Women’s World Cup for the first time, and the celebrations show no signs of slowing down. The record books were rewritten on November 2 at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai, as India lifted the coveted trophy amid scenes of jubilation. Among the many heartwarming moments that followed, Indian pacer Kranti Gaud stole the spotlight with a unique celebration.

Gaud recently broke the internet by striking a special pose with the World Cup trophy, channeling her inner Hardik Pandya for inspiration. Standing on the DY Patil Stadium pitch, she recreated Pandya’s famous nonchalant shoulder-shrug pose, a gesture the Indian all-rounder made iconic after India’s Champions Trophy triumph in March 2025 and during the 2024 T20 World Cup.

The pose, symbolising confidence and swag, went viral on social media, with fans lauding Gaud for her playful tribute. She shared the photo on her Instagram with the caption, ‘Feeling every bit of this dream come true’. Within minutes, her post flooded with love and appreciation from fans across the country.

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Although Gaud had an average tournament statistically, she still played a valuable role in India’s historic campaign. Across eight matches, she took nine wickets at a tidy economy rate of 5.73, with standout performances against Pakistan (3/20), South Africa (2/59), and New Zealand (2/48).

Speaking about the overall campaign, India finished fourth in the group stage, registering wins against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand, with one match ending as a no result. In the knockout stages, India defeated Australia in the semi-final, thanks to Jemimah Rodrigues’ unbeaten century, before overcoming South Africa in the final, where Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma starred with exceptional all-round performances to secure India’s maiden Women’s World Cup title.