WPL 2026: Ashleigh Gardner to continue as Gujarat Giants captain
What's the story
Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner will continue as the captain of the Gujarat Giants for the upcoming season of Women's Premier League (WPL). The franchise announced the decision on Monday, confirming that Gardner will lead them into battle in the 2026 edition. The tournament is set to kick off on January 9 at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, with Gujarat Giants playing their first match on January 10.
Performance history
Gardner's impressive track record with Gujarat Giants
In her three-year stint with Gujarat Giants, Gardner has played 25 WPL matches. She has scored a total of 567 runs and taken 25 wickets in these games. The veteran has tallied five fifties in the league as her batting strike rate reads 141.75. The franchise retained her for ₹3.5 crore ahead of the WPL 2026 auction, making her one of the three highest-paid players for this season.
Captaincy details
Gardner's leadership and future prospects
Gardner had previously captained the Gujarat Giants in the 2025 edition of WPL, taking over from Beth Mooney. Under her captaincy, the team finished in the top three and qualified for the knockouts. However, they couldn't make it to the final after being defeated by Mumbai Indians in an Eliminator match by 11 runs.
Career highlights
Gardner's overall T20 career and recent performances
Gardner has played a total of 282 T20 matches for four teams - Australia, Gujarat Giants, Trent Rockets, and Sydney Sixers. She has scored 5,091 runs and taken 242 wickets in these games. Her last appearance was on December 11 in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) for Sydney Sixers where she led her team this year with an impressive performance of 143 runs in 10 matches along with taking 19 wickets.