Gujarat Giants head coach Michael Klinger has identified trust, consistency and a tighter bowling unit as the pillars of the franchise’s rise ahead of the fifth Women’s Premier League. With WPL 2027 scheduled from January 14 to February 7, the Giants have retained 15 players and enter the mini auction in Kochi on October 28 with INR 1.25 crore available to fill three slots, including one overseas position.
After difficult first two seasons, Gujarat began their turnaround with a third-place finish in the 3rd edition in 2025, the final year of the inaugural cycle before taking another significant step in 2026. Led by Ashleigh Gardner, they finished second in the league stage with 10 points from eight matches, winning five and losing three, to make a second successive knockout appearance. Their campaign ended in the Eliminator, however, as Jemimah Rodrigues-led Delhi Capitals secured a seven-wicket win in Vadodara on February 3.
Klinger nevertheless viewed the season as a clear marker of progress. “Our management and CEO trust us to do our jobs, whether that’s in an auction, whether that’s preparing teams,” he said. “That’s been helpful for all the staff to be able to come into each year knowing that we can have open conversations and make decisions and know that we’ll be back.”
That backing is reflected in Gujarat’s retention strategy. Unlike the second season, when they released 11 players, the Giants have opted for continuity by retaining Anushka Sharma, Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Bharti Fulmali, Georgia Wareham, Happy Kumari, Jintimani Kalita, Kanika Ahuja, Kashvee Gautam, Kim Garth, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh, Sophie Devine, Tanuja Kanwer and Yastika Bhatia. Ayushi Soni, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Shivani Singh and Titas Sadhu were released on the September 28 deadline.
The core is underpinned by match-winners who made decisive contributions in 2026. Beth Mooney was Gujarat’s leading run-scorer, making 258 runs in nine innings at an average of 32.25 and a strike rate of 122.27, with two half-centuries. Sophie Devine delivered one of the tournament’s standout all-round campaigns, scoring 243 runs at an average of 30.37 and a strike rate of 148.17, alongside 17 wickets at 16.00 and an economy rate of 8.28. Her tally, which included a four-wicket haul, made her Gujarat’s leading wicket-taker and joint highest wicket-taker in the competition alongside Delhi Capitals’ Nandani Sharma.
For Klinger, the squad’s character has been as important as its output. “We’ve got players who have bought into what we’re trying to do at Gujarat Giants,” he said. “We’ve got a great list of overseas players who [are] not only great on-field players, but they’re good people off the field, which is really important in a franchise setup.”
Yet, the coach has been candid about the area that could turn Gujarat from contenders into finalists: bowling efficiency. “Probably that’s one area, looking at data and statistical information from last season where we can improve,” Klinger said. “I think we’ve got the personnel and a couple of players putting their hand up to maybe get opportunities there this year that will help us get some more quality over.”
Gujarat’s bowling plans could receive a boost through Kashvee Gautam, who has resumed regular bowling at the BCCI Centre of Excellence after knee surgery and is expected to return by mid-to-late October. Titas Sadhu’s release, meanwhile, was influenced by injury concerns, although she has been invited to train at the Giants’ ongoing Bengaluru camp.
The availability of Yastika Bhatia is another major positive after the wicketkeeper-batter missed WPL 2026 because of an ACL injury. Klinger believes her return will strengthen the starting XI and give Gujarat greater flexibility in their overseas combination. With just three additions required and the second-biggest purse among the five franchises behind UP Warriorz’s INR 3.65 crore, Gujarat’s auction challenge is sharply defined: add targeted bowling depth and convert steady upward momentum into a first WPL final.
(Quotes sourced from Cricbuzz)
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