With the highly anticipated 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) approaching, Gujarat Giants have once again surprised fans with their roster decisions for the third season, expected to take place in the February-March 2025 window. The team has released six players and retained 14, with some unexpected names among the releases.
Initially, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) set October 15 as the deadline for WPL franchises to finalize their retention and release lists, later extending it to November 7, 2024.
Last year, Gujarat Giants made waves by releasing 11 players, including superstars like Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, and Annabel Sutherland. This year, they’ve created similar buzz by releasing Sneh Rana, who captained the side in the first season when Beth Mooney was injured. They also released Scottish captain Kathryn Bryce, who served as their associate player, as well as T20 World Cup champion Lea Tahuhu.
𝐆𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠! 💪
Gujarat’s core squad locked in for 2025! 🔥
What are your thoughts on GG’s retentions? 🤔#CricketTwitter #WPL2025 pic.twitter.com/X7VLTF9W0N
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) November 7, 2024
The Giants have retained their core lineup, including captain Beth Mooney, overseas stars Phoebe Litchfield, Ashleigh Gardner, and Laura Wolvaardt, and domestic talent Harleen Deol, who sustained an injury mid-season, and her replacement, Bharti Fulmali, has also been retained.
For the 2025 season, each team must have a roster of 15-18 players, with a maximum of six international players. The auction purse has been increased to INR 15 crore, up from INR 12 crore in the inaugural season and INR 13.5 crore last year, providing teams more financial flexibility for competitive squad-building.
Gujarat Giants enter the WPL 2025 auction with an available purse of INR 4.40 crore, the largest among all teams, allowing them to recruit four additional players, including at least one overseas talent, to complete their lineup.
Released Players:
Sneh Rana:
Appointed captain for Gujarat in the first season in place of the injured Beth Mooney, Sneh claimed six wickets in seven innings but went wicketless in four matches during the second season, leading to her release.
Kathryn Bryce:
The associate player addition in the 2024 season, Bryce played as the fifth overseas option, claiming four wickets and scoring 83 runs in eight matches. Though she had a modest season, her experience as Scotland’s captain, and status as the ICC Associate Women’s Player of the Decade (2011-20), added depth to the squad.
Trisha Poojitha:
Purchased last season but didn’t feature in any games, she was released without a chance to play.
Veda Krishnamurthy:
The experienced Indian batter managed only 20 runs in four matches in 2024. Despite being given opportunities, she struggled to make an impact.
Tarannum Pathan:
Acquired last season, she was given a single opportunity against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where she scored nine runs and went wicketless.
Lea Tahuhu:
A replacement for Lauren Cheatle, Tahuhu featured in two matches, claiming one wicket. Though her WPL stint was limited, she recently helped New Zealand win the T20 World Cup, taking three wickets against India in their first game, setting the tune.
With this foundation, Gujarat Giants aim to bolster their lineup at the WPL 2025 auction, positioning themselves for a competitive season.
Retained – Beth Mooney (C), Laura Wolvaardt, Phoebe Litchfield, Ashleigh Gardner, Harleen Deol, Dayalan Hemalatha, Tanuja Kanwer, Mannat Kashyap, Meghna Singh, Shabnam Shakil, Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Priya Mishra, Sayali Satghare
Released – Sneh Rana, Kathryn Bryce, Trisha Poojitha, Veda Krishnamurthy, Tarannum Pathan, Lea Tahuhu
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