New Delhi, Nov 6 (NationPress) Adani Sportsline's Gujarat Giants have officially confirmed the retention of Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney, two Australian stars, ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 WPL mega auction. Head coach Michael Klinger emphasized that both players embody the team's spirit and values.

Ashleigh, who captained the Giants in WPL 2025, had an impressive season, scoring 243 runs across nine innings at a remarkable strike rate of 164, hitting 18 sixes, the highest in the tournament. She also contributed with the ball, taking eight wickets at an economy rate of eight. Beth Mooney, on the other hand, scored 237 runs in nine innings with a solid strike rate of 128, including two half-centuries during the last season.

Coach Klinger stated, “We played an exciting brand of cricket last season. Although it’s always difficult to part with certain players, it’s essential for the league's growth. We are thrilled to retain two key players who exemplify our ethos and look forward to infusing new energy into the squad at the auction.”

The retention fees for Ashleigh and Beth are INR 3.5 crore and INR 2.5 crore, respectively, following the franchise's first playoff appearance in the 2025 WPL. The team is now set to fill 16 positions in the upcoming mega auction in New Delhi later this month.

“This inaugural mega auction for the WPL marks an exhilarating new chapter in women’s cricket. Our priority is to maintain our competitive foundation while creating opportunities to expand around these two exceptional players at the auction. We have a distinct vision for the squad we aim to assemble,” said Sanjay Adesara, Chief Business Officer of Adani Sportsline.

Additionally, the Giants have released several players, including Harleen Deol, Kashvee Gautam, Bharti Fulmali, Laura Wolvaardt, Deandra Dottin, Tanuja Kanwar, Dayalan Hemalatha, Danielle Gibson, Meghna Singh, Phoebe Litchfield, Mannat Kashyap, Prakashika Naik, Simran Shaikh, Sayali Satghare, Priya Mishra, and Shabnam Shakil.