Published: Dec 30, 2025, 04:50 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 30, 2025, 04:50 PM (IST)
Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner has been named captain of the Gujarat Giants ahead of the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) season. Gardner had also led the team in the 2025 edition and was one of the two players retained by the franchise, along with Beth Mooney, before the mega auction in November.
Announcing the decision on Monday, the Giants shared a message on X:
“Experience in her stride. Belief in her voice. Ash Gardner steps up once more as our CAPTAIN, primed to take us to glory.â€
Gardner has featured in 25 matches for the Giants across the first three WPL seasons. During that time, she has scored 567 runs at a strike rate of 141.75, including five half-centuries. With the ball, she has taken 25 wickets at an economy rate of 8.34. After disappointing results in the first two seasons, Gardner led the team to a Playoff finish in the third season, where they were knocked out in the Eliminator.
As captain, Gardner will lead a strong squad that includes fellow Australians Kim Garth and Georgia Wareham, along with experienced international players such as Sophie Devine and Danielle Wyatt-Hodge. The Giants will begin their WPL campaign against UP Warriorz in Navi Mumbai on January 10, as they look to win their first WPL title.
The upcoming WPL season comes just a few months before the T20 World Cup in England. Speaking recently, Gardner admitted that Australia’s recent World Cup campaigns had been disappointing but insisted the team still remains the best in the world.
“The last couple of World Cups have been frustrating because of the way that they’ve ended. But I can sit here comfortably and say that I still believe that we’re the best team. It’s just making sure that we’re showing that in those moments where it really matters.â€
“So I’m certainly thinking about June next year, it seems like a long time away, but it realistically isn’t, and it’ll come around very quickly,†she told AAP.
Gardner said Australia’s setbacks at the T20 and ODI World Cups exposed the team to pressure it is not accustomed to.
“We’ve certainly been put under pressure recently. But I can still sit here confidently saying that we’re the best team in the world,†Gardner told cricket.com.au.
Australia will host the newly-crowned 50-over world champions India for a full series comprising three T20 Internationals, as many ODIs and a Test during February and March next year.
