The Gujarat Giants haven’t enjoyed a memorable run in the first couple of seasons of the WPL. The team in Orange finished last on the points table in 2023 and 2024 and have endured disappointing performances from their core group. However, with 4 new signings on the auction table, the Ashleigh Gardner-led side would aim to script a remarkable turnaround and fight in competitive fashion to emerge as serious contenders for the title clash.
Ashleigh Gardner
With a brand-new season around the corner, the Gujarat Giants management have appointed Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner as the skipper for the season of 2025. Gardner, a formidable cricketer, proves to be one of the most accomplished cricketers in recent times as her numbers speak volumes about her caliber and talent.
95 T20Is, over 1,400 runs, and 78 wickets with her off-spin – legendary numbers for a player having made her debut in 2017. The Australian has played a pivotal role in her team’s supremacy in women’s cricket, significantly contributing to their gold-medal achievement at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the 2023 T20 World Cup. At the recent Australian Awards, she was honored with the ODI Cricketer of the year award as well. During her stay with the Giants, she has piled up 324 runs and scalped 17 wickets, making valuable and timely contributions with both bat and ball.
Beth Mooney
Ex-skipper Beth Mooney will feature as a keeper-batter this WPL season and will look to maximize her credentials in franchise cricket. In 8 innings during WPL 2024, Mooney smashed 285 runs with a brilliant average of 47.50. Known for the art of accelerating her innings well, the Australian stalwart will aim for redemption in her quest to add another coveted trophy in her cabinet. Mooney’s unbeaten 51-ball 85, featuring 12 fours and one six, is the highest individual score by a Giants’ batter in the WPL. This innings contributed to a 140-run opening stand with partner Laura Wolvaardt, marking the second-highest partnership in WPL history.
Deandra Dottin
Things have taken a different turn for West Indian batter Deandra Dottin in international and franchise cricket. After reversing her retirement, the explosive batter recently made a spectacular return to international cricket for the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. She performed admirably all in all, scoring 120 runs at a strike rate of 162.16, from 5 appearances, and delivering a 4-fer in a crucial victory. Following a fierce bidding battle with UP Warriorz, Dottin was signed by the Giants, who was the second-most expensive player in the 2025 auction for 1.7 crores. The Gujarat management would have their eyes on the big hitter to do justice to the heavy bucks spent on her.
Laura Wolvaardt
An explosive South African batter, Laura Wolvaardt will have the onus to set the stage on fire during the powerplay overs. Ably accompanied by ex-skipper Mooney, the dashing pair would be a threat for the opposition bowlers. As of 2024, the right-handed batter has scored 310 runs at an average of 31.00 with a strike rate of 134.19; cherried with three fifty plus scores for her. Laura Wolvaardt’s journey through the WPL stands testimony to her adaptability and skills, making her a significant rival in the competitive landscape of the league.
Phoebe Litchfield
During the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 auction, the Australian left-handed batter Phoebe Litchfield was sold for ₹ 1 Crore to the Gujarat Giants. In 2024, she played eight matches and scored only 108 runs, with an average of 13.50 and a strike rate of 100.93. As she evaluated her season, Litchfield pointed to some of the difficulties and paid heed to the art of learning from failures, especially in India. She scored 279 runs while representing Northern Superchargers in The Hundred 2023, finishing third on the list of run getters. Recently, she captained the Sydney Thunder in the Women’s Big Bash League, becoming the youngest full-time captain in the history of the league at just 21 years, and also was amongst leading run-scorers.
Danielle Gibson
Having not made a debut in the Women’s Premier League, Danielle Gibson has been an active participant in franchise cricket taking place around the world. Gibson has been a key player for London Spirit in The Hundred. Notably, in August 2024, she contributed quick 22 runs off 9 balls, helping London Spirit secure their maiden Women’s Hundred title. In December 2023, Gibson was awarded with the first central contract, cementing her position in the English national team as well.
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