Gujarat Giants have confirmed that Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner will continue as captain for the upcoming season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Gardner, who is a three-time T20 Women’s World Cup winner, took over the captaincy from 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 social media.
Since the WPL’s inception in 2023, Gardner has been a key player for the Gujarat Giants, amassing 568 runs and taking 25 wickets in 25 matches. She was one of the two players retained by the Giants prior to the WPL 2026 Auction, with the other being Beth Mooney for Rs. 2.5 crore. Gardner was retained for Rs. 3.5 crore.
Last season, Gardner stood out with her consistent all-round performances. Batting in the middle order, she was the leading run-scorer for the team, finishing with 243 runs in nine matches at an impressive strike rate of 164.18 and an average of 30.37.
The Aussie all-rounder also excelled with her right-arm off-spin, taking eight wickets at an economy of 8.03. She was recognized for her power hitting, winning the Most Sixes award with 18 maximums.
The Giants secured eight points from eight matches, finishing third in the WPL 2025 standings, which allowed them to qualify for the Eliminator. However, their successful season came to an end there as they lost to the eventual champions, Mumbai Inddigihunt.
The fourth edition of the WPL will take place from January 9 to February 5, 2026, across Navi Mumbai and Vadodara. The Giants will kick off their campaign against UP Warriorz in Navi Mumbai on January 10.