As the countdown to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 begins, the Gujarat Giants are combining preparation with perspective. On Monday, the franchise visited the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai to seek
blessings ahead of the new season, set to start on January 9 in Navi Mumbai.
Head coach Michael Klinger and bowling coach Pravin Tambe were accompanied by players Tanuja Kanwar, Bharti Fulmali, and Ayushi Soni, along with Video Analyst Saurabh Walkar. The temple visit offered a quiet moment of reflection as the team honed its focus for the upcoming campaign.
Currently in Mumbai for their pre-season camp, the Giants are fine-tuning their combinations and settling into rhythm ahead of what promises to be a challenging season. After reaching the WPL playoffs for the first time last year, the emphasis this season is on building early momentum and maintaining it throughout the tournament.
The Gujarat Giants will face UP Warriorz in their WPL 2026 opener on Saturday, January 10, at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The team aims to build on last season’s success and challenge for the title.
Who Is Gujarat Giants Captain?
Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner will continue to lead the franchise this season. Gardner, a three-time T20 Women’s World Cup winner, took over the captaincy from her Australian teammate Beth Mooney last season. Under her leadership, the Gujarat Giants reached the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.
“Experience in her stride. Belief in her voice. Ash Gardner steps up once more as our CAPTAIN, primed to take us to glory,” the Giants shared on its social media.
Since the WPL’s inception in 2023, Gardner has been a key player for the Gujarat Giants, scoring 568 runs and taking 25 wickets in 25 games. She was one of the two players, along with Beth Mooney, retained by the Giants before the WPL 2026 Auction for Rs. 3.5 crore.
Last season, Gardner stood out with her consistent all-round performances. Batting in the middle order, she finished as the leading run-scorer for the team, amassing 243 runs in nine matches at an impressive strike rate of 164.18, with an average of 30.37.
The Aussie all-rounder also made significant contributions with her right-arm off-spin, claiming eight wickets at an economy of 8.03. Gardner earned the Most Sixes award, hitting 18 maximums.
(With inputs from Agencies)
