 "WPL 2025: Ashleigh Gardner believes Gujarat Giants will make a turnaround with ‘some really great players’")
A day before the start of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 season , the captains of all five teams gathered to discuss the upcoming tournament. Among them was Ashleigh Gardner, captain of the Gujarat Giants, who expressed a renewed sense of optimism for her team’s prospects after two disappointing seasons.
Gardner is optimistic about Gujarat Giants’ turnaround
Gardner, replying to Firstpost’s query on the Star Sports Press Room — WPL Captain’s Huddle, emphasized the importance of a fresh start. She believes that the team can turn their fortunes around after two poor campaigns.
“I think forgetting what’s happened in the last two years is probably a good start. We obviously can’t change how the last two years have been, but I think with the squad that we have put together this season, we have a lot of experience. We also have some fantastic young players coming through,” she said.
The Giants have finished at the bottom of the table in both previous WPL editions, but Gardner believes the current squad has the right mix to change their fortunes. She pointed to the development of young Indian talent like Priya Mishra, who recently made her international debut, as a sign of progress.
“To see her progression in such a short amount of time and to see her performing on the international stage is really exciting. She is just one example of the changes that we have seen over the last 12 months. We have got some really great players, we have got great staff, so fingers crossed we can get off to the start that we would like,” Gardner added.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsGardner has been a part of the Gujarat Giants team since the inaugural edition. She was the standout performer for the Gujarat Giants, finishing as their highest run-scorer while also being their second-highest wicket-taker. She scored 204 runs, including 2 fifties, and took 10 wickets in 8 matches.
Gujarat Giants’ squad: Ashleigh Gardner (C), Harleen Deol, Prakashika Naik, Beth Mooney, Kashvee Gautam, Priya Mishra, Bharti Fulmali, Laura Wolvaardt, Sayali Satchare, Danielle Gibson, Mannat Kashyap, Shabnam Shakil, Dayalan Hemalatha, Meghna Singh, Simran Shaikh, Deandra Dottin, Phoebe Litchfield, Tanuja Kanwer
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