Leadership Shift: Ashleigh Gardner Takes Helm of Gujarat Giants for WPL 2026

Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner has been appointed as the captain of Gujarat Giants for the upcoming Women’s Premier League season, as announced by the franchise on Monday.

Gardner, at 28, has featured in 25 matches for the WPL team, amassing 567 runs, including five half-centuries, and maintaining a strike rate of 141.75 across three seasons. She was retained by the Giants alongside Beth Mooney, with Gardner retained for Rs. 3.5 Cr. and Mooney for Rs. 2.5 Cr., ahead of the WPL 2026 Auction.

The Giants made the announcement on social media, stating, “Experience in her stride. Belief in her voice. Ash Gardner steps up once more as our CAPTAIN, primed to take us to glory.”

A three-time T20 Women’s World Cup champion, Gardner has been part of the Giants since the league’s inception in 2023 and contributed significantly to the team’s third-place finish last season, where they were defeated by the eventual champions, Mumbai Indians, by 47 runs.

The fourth edition of the WPL will be divided into two segments, taking place in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara, with the opening game scheduled at the D. Y. Patil Stadium.

The Giants will commence their season against UP Warriorz in Navi Mumbai on January 10.

Published on Dec 30, 2025