The Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants have announced their retentions ahead of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 Mega Auction, set to be held on November 27 in New Delhi.
After a landmark 2025 campaign that saw the side make their first-ever playoff appearance, the franchise has opted to retain two overseas mainstays, skipper Ashleigh Gardner and wicketkeeper-batter Beth Mooney, reaffirming their intent to build around an experienced core. With two retentions and three Right-to-Match (RTM) cards in hand, the Giants will enter the auction with a purse of 9 crore rupees and 16 squad spots available.
The retention strategy signals continuity and focuses for a side that has steadily evolved after tough beginnings. Having finished at the bottom of the table in both 2023 and 2024 with just four points each season, Gujarat Giants showed remarkable improvement last year, finishing third in the league stage with four wins and an equal number of defeats.
Ashleigh Gardner: (3.5 Crores)
Under Gardner’s leadership, the team made its way into the knockouts for the first time before bowing out in the Eliminator against Harmanpreet Kaur’s Mumbai Indians. The franchise’s turnaround season, built on character and cohesion, now forms the foundation of their reconstruction strategy ahead of the league’s first-ever mega auction.
Chief Business Officer Mr Sanjay Adesara underlined the franchise’s clarity of thought as the WPL enters a new era. “With the first-ever mega auction for the WPL, we are entering an exciting new phase of women’s cricket. Our focus is to keep our competitive core intact while opening opportunities to build further around these two players at the auction. We have a clear vision of the squad we want to build,” he remarked, reflecting the Giants’ emphasis on continuity backed by strategic expansion.
Ashleigh Gardner’s all-round brilliance defined Gujarat’s success story last season. The Australian all-rounder led from the front, amassing 243 runs at a strike rate of 164.18 and an average of 30.37, including three half-centuries in nine innings. She also made telling contributions with the ball, picking up eight wickets at an average of 27.12 and an economy of 8.03.
Over three seasons, Gardner has become synonymous with the Giants’ brand of play, aggressive yet composed, and holds the distinction of being the team’s leading run-scorer (567 runs at a strike rate of 141.75) and leading wicket-taker (25 wickets at an economy of 8.34) in 25 matches.
Beth Mooney: (2.5 Crores)
Beth Mooney’s calm assurance at the top has been equally vital. Despite a rocky start to her WPL journey due to injury in the 2023 opener, the former skipper returned strongly. Last season, she scored 237 runs at a strike rate of 128.10 and an average of 29.62, including two half-centuries. Across her 18 innings in the WPL, Mooney has tallied 522 runs at a healthy average of 37.28, reaffirming her position as one of the most consistent top-order batters in the league. Together, Mooney and Gardner represent not just statistical anchors but the emotional and tactical pillars around which Gujarat wishes to rebuild.
Gujarat Giants Released Players:
Harleen Deol, Bharti Fulmali, Laura Wolvaardt, Phoebe Litchfield, Dayalan Hemalatha, Simran Shaikh, Deandra Dottin, Mannat Kashyap, Danielle Gibson, Sayali Satghare, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwer, Meghna Singh, Prakashika Naik, Shabnam Shakil, Priya Mishra
Head Coach Michael Klinger echoed similar sentiments, acknowledging the evolution of the Giants’ squad. “We played an exciting brand of cricket last season, and while parting ways with some players is always tough, it’s part of the league’s evolution. We’ve retained two strong players who reflect our playing ethos, and we’re eager to add fresh energy at the auction to take the team forward,” he noted.
Among the released names are high-profile players such as Laura Wolvaardt, Phoebe Litchfield, leg-spinner Priya Mishra, and pacer Kashvee Gautam, decisions that underline the franchise’s refreshed focus ahead of the mega auction.
Heading into the 2026 season, the fourth edition of the WPL, the Giants remain one of the sides to watch in the upcoming auction. With a solid foundation in Gardner and Mooney, a clearer vision in leadership, and a sizable purse ready for strategic deployment, Gujarat will look to evolve from playoff contenders to genuine title challengers. The clarity of intent and balance of experience suggest that the Giants are not just rebuilding, they are aiming to redefine their legacy in the league.
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