As the countdown to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 begins, the Gujarat Giants are gearing up with a blend of preparation and perspective. On Monday, the Adani Sportsline-owned franchise paid a visit to the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai to seek blessings ahead of the new season, which kicks off on January 9 in Navi Mumbai.
Team Visits Temple for Blessings
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 and Sanjay Adesara, chief business officer at Adani Sportsline. The temple visit provided a moment of reflection as the team sharpened its focus for the upcoming campaign.
Currently stationed in Mumbai for their pre-season camp, the Giants are fine-tuning combinations and settling into rhythm ahead of what promises to be a challenging season. Having reached the WPL playoffs for the first time last year, the emphasis this season is on building early momentum and sustaining it throughout the tournament.
Opening Match Details
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 is keen to build on last season’s momentum as it prepares for a title challenge.
Ashleigh Gardner Continues as Captain
Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner will lead the franchise in the upcoming season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). 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 social media.
Since the WPL’s inception in 2023, Gardner has been a vital part of the Gujarat Giants, scoring 568 runs and taking 25 wickets in 25 games. She was one of the two players, the other being Beth Mooney, retained by the Giants before the WPL 2026 Auction for Rs. 3.5 crore.
Last Season Highlights
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 with 243 runs in nine matches, boasting an impressive strike rate of 164.18 and 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 rate of 8.03. Notably, she secured the Most Sixes award with 18 maximums to her name.