Navi Mumbai, Jan 10 (NationPress) Australian cricketer Ashleigh Gardner, captain of the Gujarat Giants, has expressed her admiration for the Indian women's team following their remarkable performance that culminated in a stunning victory at the 50-over World Cup. She mentioned that defeating teams led by Indian captains serves as additional motivation due to the immense popularity these players hold in their home country.

However, Gardner will have to wait to fulfill her desire to overcome an Indian captain, as the Gujarat Giants will kick off their journey in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 against the UP Warriorz. This team will be led by Meg Lanning, Gardner’s former captain, at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai this Saturday.

With three out of five WPL teams, including the Mumbai Indians (Harmanpreet Kaur), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Smriti Mandhana), and Delhi Capitals (Jemimah Rodrigues), helmed by Indian captains, Gardner will have ample chances to experience this competitive thrill.

"There’s always an added spark to beat teams with Indian captains. The media has been buzzing about the World Cup recently, and it felt almost scripted for India to claim the trophy on their own turf. I can relate to those emotions and can only imagine how exhilarating it must have been for them," Gardner stated during the 'TATA WPL: Curtain Raiser' ahead of their match against UP Warriorz.

She further elaborated on how special it is to participate in franchise cricket in India after their disappointing exit from the ICC Women's ODI World Cup. "Returning here after what was a letdown for us, but diving back into the franchise cricket scene in India is incredibly special. It’s one of the top competitions globally, and I’m thrilled to lead the Gujarat team once more," she added.

Meanwhile, Meg Lanning, the new captain of UP Warriorz, expressed her enthusiasm about guiding a fresh team and collaborating with India’s Deepti Sharma, who was instrumental in her country's recent World Cup success. "I’m really looking forward to working with Deepti. I've played alongside her before, and it’s always a pleasure. She’s performed excellently and has been with UP Warriorz since the beginning, so I’ll definitely rely on her insights to navigate how things operate here," Lanning mentioned during the 'TATA WPL: Curtain Raiser'.

Lanning, who previously led the Delhi Capitals to three consecutive finals in the WPL, acknowledged that captaining the Warriorz presents a challenge because she is unfamiliar with the new staff and players. "I have cherished my time at Delhi Capitals, but this is an exciting new challenge for me personally. Getting accustomed to the new squad will be the biggest hurdle, as I don’t know many of the players or staff. Nonetheless, I’m eager to put my own touch on things and maximize everyone’s potential. I can’t wait to kick off our first game," Lanning stated ahead of their opening match against Gujarat Giants this Saturday.