Gujarat Giants fell short of their first title in 2025, exiting in the Eliminator against Mumbai Indians despite a strong playoff qualification. Now rebuilt with firepower, they launch the 2026 campaign against UP Warriorz on January 10 at a venue like DY Patil Stadium, aiming to dominate from the outset. This revamped squad blends proven stars and emerging talents, positioning GG as serious contenders.
Squad overhaul boosts Gujarat Giants’ prospects
Gujarat Giants strategically bolstered their lineup post-auction, snapping up all-round dynamos like Sophie Devine for ₹2 crore, Kim Garth, Ayushi Soni, Georgia Wareham, and Kanika Ahuja to add depth and versatility. They also secured explosive batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge and keeper Yastika Bhatia, while retaining skipper and Beth Mooney as the core. Domestic holdovers Bharti Fulmali, Tanuja Kanwar, and Kashvee Gautam provide continuity, with the bowling fortified by Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu, and Wareham alongside Gardner’s spin.
Mooney enters in peak form, topping the WBBL 2025-26 charts with around 500+ runs across 13 innings for Perth Scorchers, showcasing her anchoring prowess at a strike rate over 140. Captain Gardner, GG’s leading run-scorer in WPL 2025 with 243 runs at 164 strike rate and 8 wickets, led them to playoffs, blending explosive middle-order hitting with off-spin control. These changes address past weaknesses, crafting a balanced unit primed for T20 dominance on varied Indian pitches.
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GG’s best playing XI for WPL 2026
1. Beth Mooney (WK, Overseas)
Role: Opening batter
Strength: Unwavering consistency and power
What she brings: Mooney lays Powerplay foundations with precise glovework and adaptive tempo control, converting starts into match-winning knocks on seaming tracks. Her WBBL mastery ensures GG posts par totals or chases efficiently under pressure. Leadership in partnerships stabilizes volatile top orders.
2. Sophie Devine (Overseas)
Role: Opening all-rounder
Strength: Explosive starts and medium-pace strikes
What she brings: Devine shatters fields in Powerplays with raw power and seam swing, forcing defensive fields early to pile pressure. Her all-round utility covers middle-over breakthroughs and late hitting surges. Tactical flexibility adapts to pitch conditions seamlessly.
3. Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Overseas)
Role: Top-order batter
Strength: Aggressive strokeplay and T20 pedigree
What she brings: Wyatt-Hodge injects acceleration post-Powerplay with lofted covers against spin, rescuing faltering starts. Her international experience reads attacks astutely for boundary cascades. Clutch performances thrive in chases on batting-friendly surfaces.
4. Yastika Bhatia
Role: Middle-order batter/backup keeper
Strength: Left-hand flair and quick scoring
What she brings: Bhatia disrupts bowling plans with elegant drives versus pace, offering left-right balance in the engine room. Her rapid 500+ WPL runs stabilize collapses or ignite accelerations. Backup keeping adds squad versatility.
5. Ashleigh Gardner (C, Overseas)
Role: Middle-order all-rounder
Strength: Spin wizardry and six-hitting
What she brings: Gardner orchestrates middle overs via off-spin control and explosive counters, turning games with all-round dominance. Captaincy instincts optimize field settings and bowling changes dynamically. Playoff pedigree delivers under knockout lights.
6. Bharti Fulmali
Role: Middle-order batter
Strength: Composed anchoring under pressure
What she brings: Fulmali rebuilds innings methodically on slowing tracks with smart singles and selective risks. Her SR 120 cameos rescue top-order woes effectively. Domestic nous complements overseas stars seamlessly.
7. Kashvee Gautam
Role: Lower-order all-rounder
Strength: Seam swing and lower-order hitting
What she brings: Gautam’s new-ball swing extracts edges early, pairing with lower-order cameos for late momentum. Her econ 5.30 exploits Powerplays ruthlessly. Youthful energy uplifts team morale.
8. Tanuja Kanwar
Role: Left-arm spinner
Strength: Flighted control and wickets
What she brings: Kanwar chokes scoring with flighted temptations on turners, building pressure through dots. Her 7 WPL wickets complement pace attacks perfectly. Economy kings middle overs.
9. Renuka Singh Thakur
Role: Lead pacer
Strength: Swing and accuracy
What she brings: Renuka swings the new ball to dismantle opens, following with death yorkers. International pedigree shines in big moments. Econ under 6 sets tone.
10. Titas Sadhu
Role: Pace bowler
Strength: Raw speed and bounce
What she brings: Sadhu’s express pace extracts bounce to unsettle batters mid-innings. Variations trouble left-handers effectively. Emerging threat builds overs.
11. Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Role: Left-arm orthodox spinner
Strength: Economical variations and middle-over control
What she brings: Gayakwad strangles run rates with subtle turn on grippy decks, forming spin blockades. WPL thrift (econ 6.5) forces errors. Experience guides youngsters.
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