Ashleigh Gardner gets promoted to captain for the WPL 2026 season surprisingly. The Australian all-rounder has been with her franchise since the league started. She’s proven herself as a reliable performer across three seasons already.
Her batting and bowling combination make her incredibly valuable for any side. Ashleigh Gardner brings championship-winning experience from three T20 World Cup victories. One franchise showed massive faith in her by retaining her before the auction.
Her WPL Price Retention
Gujarat Giants retained Ashleigh Gardner for Rs 3.50 crore before the auction. She was one of only two players retained by the franchise. The amount shows the team’s enormous faith in her abilities.
That Rs 3.50 crore reflects her status as a world-class all-rounder. She brings both batting firepower and crucial bowling overs consistently. The WPL cost seems justified given her performances over three seasons.
Beth Mooney was the other player retained alongside her by the Giants. The price keeps one of WPL’s best overseas players in the squad. Gujarat knows its value goes way beyond just the statistics shown.
Gujarat Giants WPL Team Captaincy
Ashleigh Gardner leads the Gujarat Giants WPL team for the next season. The management believes she has “experience in her stride” clearly. Her captaincy adds another dimension to her contributions already provided.
She’s played 25 matches for the WPL team across three seasons. Gardner scored 567 runs at a strike rate of 141.75. The franchise also gets five half-centuries from her batting performances.
The franchise expressed confidence in her leadership qualities and voice publicly. Her three World Cup wins prove she knows how to win. Gujarat Giants hope her captaincy lifts them to the championship.
Season Preview
Gujarat Giants finished third last season but lost to the eventual champions. Mumbai Indians beat them by 47 runs in the knockout match. Ashleigh Gardner wants revenge under her leadership this time around.
The WPL 2026 happens across the Navi Mumbai and Vadodara venues, as scheduled. The opening match pits them against UP Warriorz on January 10 officially. Her captaincy debut comes at a crucial time for the franchise.
