WPL 2025: Missed Opportunities Cost Gujarat Giants, Says Captain Ashleigh Gardner
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Synopsis
In the WPL 2025 opener, Gujarat Giants faced a six-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Captain Ashleigh Gardner scored 79 runs but the team's missed chances, especially in fielding, proved costly. They aim for redemption in their next match against UP Warriorz.
Key Takeaways
- Gujarat Giants regretted dropped catches that led to their defeat.
- Ashleigh Gardner starred with both bat and ball.
- Elysse Perry's half-century was crucial for the opposition.
- Richa Ghosh’s impressive innings secured victory for Bengaluru.
- Next match for Giants is against UP Warriorz.
Vadodara, Feb 15 (NationPress) The Gujarat Giants are lamenting their missed opportunities following a six-wicket defeat to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the inaugural match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 at Kotambi Stadium on Friday.
After captain Ashleigh Gardner delivered a sensational unbeaten innings of 79 runs off 37 balls, propelling the Giants to a joint record score of 201/5 in 20 overs, she made an impact with the ball by taking out both openers, Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt-Hodge, in the second over, setting her team up for success.
Nevertheless, several fielding errors proved detrimental, as they failed to exert pressure on the reigning champions.
Elysse Perry was let off the hook twice—first at two runs and again at 19—allowing the Australian batter to score a crucial half-century and keep her team in contention. Following Perry's exit, Richa Ghosh took charge after being dropped on zero by Simran Shaikh, ultimately leading her team to victory with a stunning 93-run partnership with Kanika Ahuja for the fifth wicket.
“It’s quite disappointing, to be honest. A score of 200 was likely just adequate, and we needed to bowl exceptionally well. Unfortunately, we dropped some opportunities that cost us dearly in the end. There are always positives to take from every match, but not securing a win is unfortunate,” said Ashleigh Gardner in her post-match comments.
“There were many commendable performances—Mooney at the top setting the tone, and Deandra doing what she does best. We had some glimpses with the bat, but missed chances can be costly. Ghosh performed exceptionally and led her team to victory. The dew made it challenging towards the end, making it difficult to grip the ball, but I won't use that as an excuse,” she added.
The Gujarat Giants are scheduled to face the UP Warriorz on Sunday, aiming for their first victory, while the Royal Challengers Bengaluru will look to continue their winning streak against the Delhi Capitals on Monday, in a rematch of last year's finals.
