Mumbai, Jan 5 (NationPress) As the anticipation for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 intensifies, the Gujarat Giants are merging their preparations with spiritual reflection. On Monday, the franchise owned by Adani Sportsline made a visit to the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai to seek divine blessings ahead of the upcoming season, which kicks off on January 9 in Navi Mumbai.

Head coach Michael Klinger and bowling coach Pravin Tambe were accompanied by players Tanuja Kanwar, Bharti Fulmali, and Ayushi Soni, along with Video Analyst Saurabh Walkar and Sanjay Adesara, the chief business officer of Adani Sportsline. This visit served as a moment of contemplation as the team sharpened its focus for the season ahead.

Currently training in Mumbai for their pre-season camp, the Giants are working on refining team combinations and establishing their rhythm as they prepare for what is expected to be a challenging season. After reaching the WPL playoffs for the first time last year, the focus this season is on building early momentum and maintaining it throughout the tournament.

The Gujarat Giants are set to face the UP Warriorz in their WPL 2026 opening match on Saturday, January 10, at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The team aims to capitalize on their momentum from last season as they target a title challenge.

Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner will continue her role as captain for the upcoming season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Gardner, a three-time T20 Women’s World Cup champion, took over the captaincy from her Australian teammate Beth Mooney last season. Under her leadership, the Gujarat Giants made it to the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.

“With experience guiding her and belief in her voice, Ash Gardner is ready to lead us to glory once again,” the Giants proclaimed on their social media platforms.

Since the inception of the WPL in 2023, Gardner has been a vital part of the Gujarat Giants, amassing 568 runs and taking 25 wickets across 25 matches. She was retained for Rs. 2.5 crore before the WPL 2026 Auction, where her price increased to Rs. 3.5 crore.

Last season, Gardner stood out with her consistent all-round performances. In the middle order, she was the top run-scorer for the team, accumulating 243 runs in nine matches at an outstanding strike rate of 164.18 and an average of 30.37.

Additionally, the Aussie all-rounder showcased her skills with her right-arm off-spin, claiming eight wickets at an economy rate of 8.03 and winning the Most Sixes award with a total of 18 sixes.