WPL 2025: Gujarat Giants Appoint Ashleigh Gardner as Captain Ahead of Women's Premier League Season 3

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Gujarat Giants on Wednesday (February 5) appointed experienced Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner as the team's captain ahead of the upcoming third edition of the Women's Premier League - WPL 2025.

Gardner, a key figure in Australian cricket, replaces her compatriot Beth Mooney in the role. Mooney, who was named captain in 2023, missed the first season due to injury, but returned to lead the team last season, when the Giants finished their second successive season at the foot of the table.

The Giants were also led by Indian spinner Sneh Rana in the inaugural edition when Mooney left the tournament after picking up an injury in the curtain raiser. Rana was released from the franchise ahead of the season 3 auction.

Although Mooney has been retained in the side, the Australian wicketkeeper-batter has been relieved of captaincy duty with Gardner is set to be the third captain for the Giants in three seasons.

Gardner has been an integral part of Gujarat Giants since the league's inception. Over the last two seasons of WPL, she has scored 324 runs and bagged 17 wickets. The 27-year-old said it was an honour for her to be named the captain of Gujarat Giants.

"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. 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," Gardner was quoted as saying in a release.

The Australian all-rounder, who made her debut in 2017, is a two-time Belinda Clark Award winner and she played a significant 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.

Gujarat Giants head coach Michael Klinger expressed his confidence in Gardner's leadership, highlighting her ability to inspire her teammates as they aim for their first-ever title.

"She is a fierce competitor. Her game awareness, tactical acumen, and ability to inspire players make her the ideal choice to captain Gujarat Giants. We believe she will lead from the front and guide the team towards a successful campaign," Klinger said.

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 major leader of our group."

Mr Sanjay Adesara, Chief Business Officer, Adani Sportsline, said, "Gardner embodies the spirit of 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 put up a stellar performance in WPL."

Gujarat Giants roped in West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin and India's Simran Shaikh at the WPL auction 2025 in December last year. The Giants also picked England's Danielle Gibson and India's Prakashika Naik in the mini auction. Here is a look at Gujarat Giants squad:

Gujarat Giants WPL 2025 Squad

Ashleigh Gardner (captain), Beth Mooney (wicketkeeper), Dayalan Hemalatha, Simran Shaikh, Deandra Dottin, Harleen Deol, Laura Wolvaardt, Shabnam Shakil, Tanuja Kanwer, Phoebe Litchfield, Meghna Singh, Kashvee Gautam, Priya Mishra, Mannat Kashyap, Bharti Fulmali, Sayali Satghare, Danielle Gibson, Prakashika Naik.