As the third edition of Women’s Premier League is not far away, Gujarat Giants are bracing up for an exciting campaign with renewed aspirations. Owned by Adani Sportsline, the team is all prepared to make its home debut at Vadodara, marking an important moment in the franchise’s history. Adding to the excitement and anticipation, they have revealed their jersey for the 2025 season, during the team’s press event in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
As seen in the pictures, the vibrant orange jersey, featuring sponsors like Tata Capital and Ambuja Cement was showcased by team’s Head Coach Michael Klinger, players Harleen Deol and Shabnam Shakil, and Adani Sportsline’s CBO, Sanjay Adesara. Gujarat Giants will be hoping that the change of jersey brings a change of luck as they seek a turnaround after two challenging seasons.
Head Coach Michael Klinger emphasized the team’s ambition to claim the ultimate prize this season, expressing confidence in the squad’s capabilities and improvements. “We’re certainly here to compete really hard. We’re looking forward to playing some really strong cricket and hopefully qualify for the finals. We’re not shying away from it, that’s going to be our aim this season.” Klinger stated.
Indian all-rounder, Harleen Deol who missed the previous season due to an injury, expressed her excitement, recalling fond memories of playing in Vadodara. “I missed the last season because of an injury, so I am even more keen to play this edition. I’ve got a lovely memory of scoring my maiden ton in Vadodara, but in cricket, you have to start from zero every day. If you’ve scored runs before that doesn’t mean you have those runs in your pocket already. So, I’m very excited to be playing there for this tournament, and I’m looking forward to it.”, she said.
On the heels of her second successive Under-19 World Cup victory, young bowling talent Shabnam Shakil, has credited her stint with Gujarat Giants at the WPL, as a major factor in her growth as a player. She expressed that playing alongside experienced and international players has been a valuable learning experience. Reflecting on her journey, she highlighted how season two, where she got the chance to play in four matches, significantly contributed to her growth.
Adani Sportsline’s Chief Business Officer, Sanjay Adesara highlighted the team’s commitment to provide an unforgettable cricket experience for fans in Gujarat and beyond. Expressing his excitement about the team playing in Vadodara, he said, “It’s the first time we will be playing in front of our home crowd. So, that in itself is enough excitement for all of us.”
The team on Wednesday also announced Ashleigh Gardner’s appointment as their new captain, expressing gratitude to their former skipper, Beth Mooney. With a new leadership, they will be hoping to bounce back from two disappointing seasons having finished at the bottom in both 2023 and 2024 with only two wins from their eight-match campaign.
With Gardner, a seasoned Australian all-rounder at the helm, Gujarat will be eager to make a more impactful run in the upcoming season. They are set to face the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the WPL 2025 opener on February 14, 2025, at BCA Stadium in Vadodara.
(Quotes sourced from Gujarat Giants press release)
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