In a post-match press conference brimming with relief and pride, Gujarat Giants head coach Michael Klinger hailed his side’s gritty 11-run victory over Mumbai Indians in Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 Match 19 at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara, on January 30.
The triumph, not just any win, but the Giants’ maiden against Mumbai after eight straight defeats, catapulted them to second place with 10 points from eight games (five wins, three losses), securing their second consecutive Eliminator spot on February 3. Klinger dissected the bold tactics, standout all-round efforts from Sophie Devine and Georgia Wareham, and skipper Ashleigh Gardner’s ice-cool leadership that turned a tricky pitch into a fortress.
Ashleigh Gardner’s toss call to bat first shattered a 40-game WPL streak of chasing sides, echoing Meg Lanning’s 2024 final gamble. The Giants racked up 167/4, fueled by Devine’s steady 25 off 21, Anushka Sharma’s 33 off 31, Gardner’s explosive 46 off 28 (strike rate 164.29), and Wareham’s unbeaten 44 off 26 balls (strike rate 169.23).
Mumbai’s chase crumbled to 156/7 despite Harmanpreet Kaur’s defiant 82* off 48 (strike rate 170.83, her 11th WPL fifty and sixth versus Giants), with Devine (4-1-23-2, scalping Matthews and Sciver-Brunt) and Wareham (4-0-26-2) starring. Devine now leads with the Purple Cap (17 wickets, avg 13.94, econ 7.94), while Kaur holds Orange Cap honours (342 runs, avg 68.40, strike rate 150.66).
Klinger savoured ending the 8-0 curse, “To win one where it really counts to qualify for the finals series is pretty special. They’re a quality team, but for Gujarat Giants to get over the line tonight means a lot to us.” He credited the batting depth on a slowing track: “Getting pretty close (167/4) to 170 was maybe slightly above par, so I thought our batting group did a great job.”
Explaining the rare bat-first choice on a fourth-use pitch, Klinger drew from history, “We’ve been playing pretty well batting first, our first game against Mumbai when we batted first and made 192, we felt it was going to benefit us.” It set up a defendable total, with bowlers executing under pressure.
The White Ferns veteran all-rounder and former skipper Sophie Devine was picked up by Gujarat Giants at a price of 2 CR at the mega auctions on 27th November 2025. Klinger reserved special praise for Devine, the tournament’s top all-rounder (237 runs at strike rate 152.90, avg 33.85 alongside her wickets): “She’s had an excellent season, her bowling and presence, she’s worth every cent.” Wareham, Player of the Match after her all-round burst (143 runs at strike rate 145.91, avg 35.75; 5 wickets, avg 33.80), got a nod too, “Georgia Wareham is a star, figures of four overs, two for 26 against Mumbai, who play spin pretty well, she was going to click.”
Ashleigh Gardner’s captaincy peaked in the final over, defending 26 against Kaur, “She really only had to bowl two good balls to win, she’s our most experienced, I thought she captained them brilliantly.” Anushka Sharma (161 runs at strike rate 129.83, avg 26.83) impressed at No. 3: “She’s playing her role beautifully, she’s got a very bright future.”
This win hands the Giants momentum into the knockouts, while Mumbai Indians fate hinges on Delhi Capitals beating UP Warriorz on February 1. Klinger’s calm blueprint promises fireworks ahead.
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