Synopsis
In a significant change for the Gujarat Giants, Ashleigh Gardner has been appointed as the new captain for the upcoming 2025 Women's Premier League season, succeeding Beth Mooney. The team aims to improve their performance after struggling in previous seasons.Key Takeaways
- Ashleigh Gardner is the new captain of Gujarat Giants.
- She succeeds Beth Mooney in this role.
- The team finished last in the first two seasons of WPL.
- WPL 2025 season starts on February 14.
- Head coach Michael Klinger expresses confidence in Gardner's leadership.
New Delhi, Feb 5 (NationPress) In preparation for the 2025 season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), the Gujarat Giants (GG) have announced the appointment of Ashleigh Gardner, the Australian all-rounder, as their new captain. She takes over from her fellow Australian teammate Beth Mooney, who served as captain for GG during WPL 2024.
After finishing at the bottom of the points table in the initial two seasons of the WPL, the team is eager to turn their fortunes around when the WPL 2025 season kicks off on February 14 in Vadodara against the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
“It is an absolute honour for me to be named the captain of Gujarat Giants. I have loved being a part of this team and I am excited to lead this fantastic group in the upcoming season,” stated Ashleigh.
“We have a great mix of young and experienced players and plenty of Indian talent in our squad. I am looking forward to working with the team and making our fans proud,” she added in a statement released by the franchise.
Ashleigh has been a mainstay of the Australian team since 2017 and is a two-time Belinda Clark Award recipient. She played a key role in Australia’s gold medal victory at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and was named Player of the Tournament in the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup held in South Africa.
Since the WPL's inception in 2023, Ashleigh has been a crucial player for the Gujarat Giants, accumulating 324 runs and taking 17 wickets.
Head coach Michael Klinger expressed his trust in Ashleigh’s leadership abilities and thanked Beth for her contributions as captain in the previous season.
“She is a fierce competitor. Her game awareness, tactical acumen, and ability to inspire players make her the ideal choice to lead Gujarat Giants. We believe she will guide the team towards a successful campaign,” said Klinger.
“I would like to thank Mooney for her invaluable leadership. Now, she can focus on wicketkeeping and opening the batting lineup, continuing to be a key leader in our group,” he added.
Sanjay Adesara, Chief Business Officer of Adani Sportsline, commented, “Gardner embodies the spirit of Gujarat Giants with her dedication, skill, and leadership. Her captaincy reflects our commitment to assembling a world-class team that competes at the highest level. We are confident that under her guidance, the team will deliver an exceptional performance in WPL.”
Gujarat Giants WPL 2025 squad: Ashleigh Gardner (c), Beth Mooney, Dayalan Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Laura Wolvaardt, Shabnam Shakil, Tanuja Kanwer, Phoebe Litchfield, Meghna Singh, Kashvee Gautam, Priya Mishra, Mannat Kashyap, Bharti Fulmali, Sayali Satghare, Deandra Dottin, Simran Shaikh, Danielle Gibson, and Prakashika Naik
