Ahmedabad, 5 February (HS): Gujarat Giants have appointed Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner as the team captain for the upcoming season of the Women's Premier League (WPL). Gardner, a prominent figure in Australian cricket, made her debut in 2017.

Gardner is a two-time Belinda Clark Award winner and played a key role in Australia's 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal success. She was the Player of the Tournament at the T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2023.

Gardner has been an integral part of Gujarat Giants since the inception of the league. In the last two seasons of the WPL, she has scored 324 runs and taken 17 wickets.

Gardner said in a statement issued by the franchise, It is a great honor for me to be made the captain of Gujarat Giants. I love being a part of this team and I am excited to lead this fantastic group in the upcoming season. Our team has a great mix of young and experienced players and plenty of Indian talent. I look forward to working with the team and making our fans proud.

Team head coach Michael Klinger expressed confidence in Gardner's leadership. He said, She is a great competitor. Her game awareness, tactical skills and ability to motivate players make her the ideal choice to captain the Gujarat Giants. We are confident that she will lead from the front and guide the team towards a successful campaign.

Last season, the team was led by Beth Mooney. Speaking about the former captain, Klinger said, I would like to thank Mooney for her highly valued leadership. Now she will be able to focus on wicketkeeping and opening the batting lineup. She continues to be a key leader in our group.

Sanjay Adesara, Chief Business Officer, Adani Sportsline, said, “Gardner embodies the spirit of the Gujarat Giants with her dedication, skill and leadership. Her appointment as captain reiterates our commitment to building a world-class team that competes at the highest level. We are confident that under her captaincy the team will perform well in the WPL.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar