Women’s Premier League (WPL) is back with its second season, to be played from February 23 in Bengaluru and New Delhi. Five teams will participate in the tournament that is organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The first edition of the tournament was won by the Mumbai Indians, who defeated the Delhi Capitals in the final.
Gujarat Giants
The Gujarat Giants represent the city of Ahmedabad in the WPL. The team is owned by Adani Group, coached by Michael Klinger and captained by Beth Mooney.
The Gujarat Giants were won of the worst-performing teams last season. Their season began on a disastrous note with a crushing 143-run defeat against the Mumbai Indians. Adding to their woes, team captain Beth Mooney suffered a knee injury after facing only three balls, forcing her out for the rest of the season. Despite Sneh Rana taking over as captain, the Giants couldn’t reverse their downward spiral, leading to a bottom-place finish. Subsequently, they made quite a few changes to their squad for WPL 2024.
They released eleven out of 19 players ahead of the auction, where they spent a whopping Rs 2 crore to buy all-rounder Kashvee Gautam. However, Kashvee has been ruled out of the entire tournament due to an injury.
Additionally, Australian pacer Lauren Cheatle has also withdrawn from this season due to a medical reason. The Giants have also roped in former Australian cricketer Michael Klinger as their new head coach. Kiwi fast bowler Lee Tahuhu has come in for Cheatle.
Full squad – Beth Mooney (Capt.), Ashleigh Gardner, D. Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Laura Wolvaardt, M.D. Shabnam, Sneh Rana, Tanuja Kanwar, Phoebe Litchfield, Meghna Singh, Trisha Poojitha, Sayali Satghare, Priya Mishra, Kathryn Bryce, Mannat Kashyap, Veda Krishnamurthy, Tarannum Pathan, Lea Tahuhu.
Predicted XI – Beth Mooney (c)/(wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Dayalan Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Ashleigh Gardner, Sneh Rana, Kathryn Bryce, Mannat Kashyap, Lea Tahuhu, Meghna Singh, Shabnam Shakil
Players to watch out for
Take a look at five players who may make an impact for the Gujarat Giants in the WPL 2024
Phoebe Litchfield
At just 20 years old, Phoebe Litchfield has already established herself as a formidable force in international cricket. She fetched a staggering Rs 1 crore deal with Gujarat Giants, emerging as one of the highest-priced players in the auction. Her ODI debut showcased her talent as she delivered an unbeaten 78 runs against Pakistan in Brisbane, followed by another impressive knock of 67 not out in the subsequent match.
Litchfield’s remarkable performance earned her a spot in the Ashes squad, where she contributed significantly with a solid 46 runs in the second innings, aiding Australia’s victory in the one-off Test. Notably, she etched her name in history as the second youngest Australian woman to achieve an ODI century, achieving this milestone with an unbeaten 106 runs against Ireland in July. Her batting is impressive in the shortest format of the game as well. Litchfield boasts an impressive average of 37 and a striking strike rate of 170 across 11 Women’s International T20 matches. She jointly holds the record for the fastest fifty in women’s T20Is, achieved in just 18 balls against West Indies in October 2023.
Beth Mooney
After a season sidelined due to injury, Beth Mooney is set to make her return to the field this year. Known as the most prolific batter in WBBL history, Mooney holds the top spot as the all-time leading run scorer in the competition, surpassing the 4000-run milestone—a feat no other player has achieved. Her remarkable contributions were pivotal in guiding Brisbane Heat to consecutive WBBL titles in 2018 and 2019, where she earned Player of the Match awards in both finals with standout innings.
On the international stage, Mooney boasts an impressive record with 71 ODIs and 95 T20Is under her belt. In T20 cricket, she maintains an impressive batting average of 41.25 coupled with a formidable strike rate of 123.50, further solidifying her reputation as a powerhouse in the shortest format of the game.
Ashleigh Gardner
Ashleigh Gardner played an important role for the Giants last year, finishing with the second-most wickets (eight).
She was also one of the top wicket-takers in the 2023 WBBL, finishing with 21 wickets in 14 matches, including a best of 4-26. With the bat, she scored 289 runs at an average and strike rate of 22.23 and 111.5. Gardner did not contribute much with the bat in WPL 2023 and will be looking to make amends for it this time around.
She brings with her a wealth of international experience as well. In 85 T20 internationals, Gardner has scored 1308 runs at a strike rate of 130.66, and taken 64 wickets.
Laura Wolvaardt
South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, who scored 143 runs in 4 matches last season, is another batter to watch out for.
She was among the top 10 run-scorers in the WBBL 2023, with 402 runs in 15 matches at an average of 30.92 and a strike rate of 108.65. In international T20s, she has scored 1451 runs in 64 matches at a strike rate of 111.18.
Sneh Rana
Renowned for her experience and expertise, Sneh Rana is expected to play a vital role for the team as an off-spin bowler. In the previous season, Rana assumed the role of captain for the Giants following Beth Mooney’s injury, although her team faced challenges throughout the campaign. However, her personal performance was decent, as she picked eight wickets in six matches.
Her last appearance for India in T20Is was during the World Cup in South Africa in early 2023, where she showcased her all-round abilities with 34 runs and six wickets across eight games. With the upcoming WPL providing a platform to shine, Rana will be aiming to seize the opportunity to impress selectors ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Gujarat Giants Schedule for WPL 2024
Feb 25: Gujarat Giants vs Mumbai Indians at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore at 7.30 PM IST
Feb 27: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Giants at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore at 7.30 PM IST
Mar 1: UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore at 7.30 PM IST
Mar 3: Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore at 7.30 PM IST
Mar 6: Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi at 7.30 PM IST
Mar 9: Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi at 7.30 PM IST
Mar 11: Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorz at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi at 7.30 PM IST
Mar 13: Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi at 7.30 PM IST
