Kashvee first woman from Chandigarh to get BCCI retainership
Chandigarh's all-rounder Kashvee Gautam has become the first female cricketer affiliated to the Union Territory Cricket Association (UTCA), Chandigarh, to get annual retainership of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Kashvee, who honed her skills under coach Nagesh Gupta, has been included in the grade C, which reportedly offers an annual retainership of Rs 10 lakh and separate fee for playing Test, One Day and T20 internationals for the nation. The match fee is set to be Rs 15 lakh each for Test matches, Rs 6 lakh each for One Day International and Rs 3 lakh each for T20 International.
“It’s a very happy moment for me, and obviously a huge turning point of my cricketing career. Coming back from two injuries, playing the Women’s Premier League, playing for the nation and getting recognised with the BCCI retainership…it came as a big surprise and good news to me and family. I take this opportunity to thank my seniors and coach,” said Kashvee, who is in Vadodara representing Chandigarh in the ongoing Senior Women’s One Day Tournament.
On facing pressure after her inclusion in the annual contract and her recent WPL performance, the all-rounder said: “The season was great, and playing for the nation is always a player’s wish. Women’s cricket has got a new direction, after winning the recent World Cup…and preparations for the upcoming T20 Women’s World Cup are also underway.”
She said, “I have had a great support from the seniors, they always guide and promote me even during extreme pressure situations…I am lucky to getting experience under such an amazing senior batch.” Kashvee started her cricketing career from the Sector 32 government school ground and went on to become the most expensive player at the WPL auction.
As she mentioned her two major injuries, she didn’t lower the guard. In the 2025 WPL, she picked 11 wickets and helped Gujarat Giants (GG) make to the playoffs for the first time. Following this, she earned a maiden call-up for the ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka, which also featured South Africa.
She was expected to join the Indian women’s team, which won the ICC World Cup in Navi Mumbai, but a knee injury forced her to miss it. In her recent four matches of the 2026 WPL, she claimed four wickets at an economy of 7.75 within the powerplay for GG.
She also grabbed the social media attention when she was spotted interacting with Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya. The Mumbai Indian skipper asked her about the weight of the bat she was using and promised her that he would give her one — and she received one. “I remember the moment. The bat holds special value for me. Emerging from nowhere and getting such support is a real booster for me,” added the 22-year-old.
“She is making a comeback after injury layoff, and she will definitely prove her worth. She is a promising player and a keen learner. Bagging a BCCI annual contract is something that a player never forgets,” added Gupta, her coach.
