Ashleigh Gardner has been confirmed as captain of the Gujarat Giants for the WPL 2026 season. This will be her second straight year in charge after leading the side in WPL 2025.
Gardner was retained by the Giants for INR 3.50 crore ahead of the WPL 2026 mega auction. The franchise has shown clear trust in her leadership and match-winning ability as they chase their first WPL title.
Under Gardner’s captaincy last season, Gujarat Giants finished third in the points table. They won four of their eight league matches and qualified for the Eliminator, marking their best finish in the league so far.
Gardner has also been the team’s biggest performer on the field. She is Gujarat Giants’ leading run-scorer in WPL history with 567 runs at a strike rate of 141.75, including five half-centuries.
With the ball, her impact has been just as strong. Gardner is also the Giants’ highest wicket-taker, picking up 25 wickets across seasons, underlining her value as a complete all-rounder.
WPL 2026 will begin on January 9, with Gujarat Giants playing their opening match against UP Warriorz on January 10. The match will be held at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.
At the mega auction, the Giants made several key additions to strengthen the squad. Overseas stars Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham and Danielle Wyatt were signed to add depth and experience.
The franchise also focused on Indian talent, bringing in Renuka Singh, Titas Sadhu and Ayushi Soni. Beth Mooney was retained, while the team used the RTM option to bring back Kashvee Gautam and Bharti Fulmali.