Adani Sportsline Private Limited emerged as the costliest bidder of the 5 to own the Ahmedabad base and did so at a staggering figure of INR 1289 crores. The desperation from the Adani’s to enter the Indian franchise cricket market for long has been very clear and unbidden, and since they’ve got in, they haven’t taken a back seat and regularly make it to the headlines for all the right reasons.
Shortly after the team base auction, the Adani Sportsline Private Limited announced Gujarat Giants as their franchise name, and within days had revealed their first backroom staff appointment in former Indian skipper, Mithali Raj, and on the 3rd of February, announced a bunch of backroom staff appointments.
BREAKING NEWS:
Adani Group appoints Rachael Haynes as Head coach of the Women’s IPL team. #CricketTwitter #WomensIPL pic.twitter.com/xAXJ48vmnB
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 3, 2023
Australia’s ever-dependable, Rachael Haynes, who’d recently announced her retirement from all formats of the game is roped in as the sides head coach. Her coaching panel sees former India spinner and India Under-19 World Cup winning title coach, Nooshin Al Khadeer, as the side’s bowling coach. Former India senior women’s team coach, and all-rounder, Tushar Arothe is roped in as their batting coach and Gavan Twining makes it to the team as the fielding coach.
Gujarat Giants, mentor and advisor, Mithali Raj on the appointments said, “The likes of Rachael Haynes, Nooshin Al Khadeer, Tushar Arothe, and Gavan Twining will certainly take the performance of the team notches up.
“Not only have they carved a niche for themselves in their roles, but their stories of resilience will be an inspiration for the team. Their combined strengths will enable Adani Sportsline’s Gujarat Giants to give their best performance on the ground at the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League, which will inspire several aspiring women athletes.”
List of the coaching staff of Gujarat Giants:
• Head coach: Rachael Haynes
• Bowling coach: Nooshin Al Khadeer
• Batting coach: Tushar Arothe
• Fielding coach: Gavan Twining
• Mentor: Mithali Raj#CricketTwitter #WomensIPL pic.twitter.com/yN1FQkEAXw— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 3, 2023
Rachael Haynes who won as many as six World Championships with the Australian team of which she was an integral part, on her appointment said, “The Women’s Premier League is such an exciting addition to the cricket landscape. The opportunity to be involved in the inaugural season with the Adani Sportline-owned Gujarat Giants and work with the brilliant Mithali Raj is something I’m really looking forward to.
“We have formed a wonderful coaching team, with Nooshin Al Khadeer, Tushar Arothe, and Gavan Twining, who will be bringing on board their rich experience which will help the team to play an exciting brand of cricket which our fans will enjoy watching.”
While Nooshin Al Khadeer has successfully coached for a few years now in the Indian domestic circuit, a highlight of her coaching thus far will remain her coaching the India Under-19 women’s team to triumph in the inaugural edition of the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup. Adani and the Giants will hope she carries her touch of magic to the WPL as well for a successful start.
Tushar Arothe is another familiar face from the Indian cricket circles as he previously served a stint coaching the Indian Women’s team. During Tushar Arothe’s tenure, the Indian team qualified for both the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2017 and the 2018 Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup but the side fell short of getting over the line on both occasions.
Gavan Twining has a lot of exposure to add from Australian domestic competitions where he previously worked with the New South Wales (NSW) Breakers as their head coach, and assisted Greg Shipperd at the Sydney Sixers where he helped guide the team to back-to-back Big Bash League titles.
Satyam Trivedi, Head of Adani Sportsline, on the news, had the following to say, “The Women’s Premier League will be a game-changer and we are thrilled to have a phenomenal team of coaches for Gujarat Giants.
“Trailblazers such as Mithali Raj, Rachael Haynes, and Nooshin’s remarkable journey as athletes will surely set the bar high for every team member. We wish the team nothing but tremendous success.”