Gujarat Giants (GG) head coach Michael Klinger on 28 October 2026 said the franchise's three new signings at the 2027 Women's Premier League (WPL) auction — G Kamalini, Orla Prendergast, and Samaira Raghav — have expanded the team's tactical options as it finalised its 18-member squad for the upcoming season. The Kochi-based auction completed GG's roster after the franchise entered with 15 retained players and just ₹1.25 crore remaining in their purse to fill three open slots.

How GG Filled the Three Slots

Tamil Nadu left-handed wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini — a member of India's 2025 ICC Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup winning team — was acquired for ₹40 lakh. Ireland seam-bowling all-rounder Orla Prendergast was secured for ₹30 lakh as the franchise's overseas slot pick, while 16-year-old all-rounder Samaira Raghav came in at her base price of ₹10 lakh. The three signings consumed the full ₹1.25 crore available, with GG having already spent ₹13.75 crore on retentions ahead of the auction.

What Klinger Said About the New Additions

'Kamalini gives us an aggressive option throughout the batting order, Orla brings real all-round quality as a wicket-taking medium pacer, and Samaira adds explosive power in the middle order,' Klinger said in a statement issued by the franchise at the conclusion of the auction. He added that a preseason camp in Bengaluru had helped the coaching staff identify precisely which profiles the squad needed. 'The new signings complement our retained players and give us more options. We are pleased with how the squad has come together and look forward to the season ahead,' he said.

Franchise's Youth Development Focus

Sanjay Adesara, Chief Business Officer of Adani Sportsline — which owns the Gujarat Giants — said the signings reflected the organisation's philosophy of identifying and nurturing young talent. He pointed to existing squad members Kashvee Gautam, Anushka Sharma, and Happy Kumari as evidence of a productive scouting programme, and expressed hope that Samaira would follow a similar development path. 'Our belief is in unearthing young talents and nurturing them… The aim is to build a team that plays fearless cricket and contributes to the growth of the game for women in Gujarat and across the country,' Adesara said.

GG's 2026 Campaign and What's Next

Gujarat Giants finished second in the group stage of WPL 2026, winning five of eight matches, before exiting in the Eliminator after a defeat to Delhi Capitals. The 2027 WPL season is scheduled to run from 14 January to 7 February 2027, giving the squad roughly two and a half months to prepare. With captain Ashleigh Gardner leading a core that also includes Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Renuka Singh, and Rajeshwari Gayakwad, GG will be hoping the targeted auction additions provide the edge needed to go deeper than the Eliminator stage this time.