New Delhi, Jan 8 (NationPress) The Gujarat Giants (GG) seem more robust as they approach the 2026 Women's Premier League (WPL) season; however, they are confronted with challenges regarding their overseas player selections and the opening batting combination, according to former Indian captain Anjum Chopra.

During last year's mega auction, the Ashleigh Gardner-led GG made significant investments in New Zealand's seasoned all-rounder Sophie Devine, along with acquiring Georgia Wareham, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, and Kim Garth.

After finishing at the bottom of the points table in 2023 and 2024, GG demonstrated notable improvement, securing third place in the league stage and qualifying for the Eliminator in 2025, where they faced defeat against the eventual champions, Mumbai Indians.

"Yes. I believe the key issue is how they will balance their squad with Sophie Devine—they invested substantially in her during the auctions. Thus, they must ensure she secures a spot in the playing eleven. If they can't maximize her potential, they need to figure out who will open alongside Beth Mooney. They can choose Sophie Devine or Yastika Bhatia," Anjum Chopra disclosed in an exclusive interview with IANS prior to the tournament.

Australia's Beth Mooney is expected to take on the wicketkeeping role again, as Yastika is still in recovery from an ACL surgery she underwent after injuring her left knee during last year's ODI World Cup preparatory camp in Visakhapatnam.

"In addition to their opening choices, they must decide between Mooney and Yastika for wicketkeeping duties. It's a healthy competition, which is beneficial for the Indian players, as there are seven spots available for Indian players in the playing eleven," Anjum Chopra mentioned.

She emphasized that the limited slots for Indian players will heighten the competition for starting positions. "There are only a handful of specialist roles, so Indian talents must realize that it's not solely about being selected at the auction. They must also ensure they can make it into the playing eleven to display their skills," Anjum added.

As the tournament spans roughly three and a half weeks, the fitness of the players will be essential for GG's bowling unit to maintain consistent performance. Renuka Singh Thakur has shown improvement since recovering from a back stress fracture, while Kashvee Gautam and Titas Sadhu have returned to action after healing from their respective injuries.

"Fitness is crucial, as the tournament lasts about three and a half weeks. There are sufficient breaks because the men's series against New Zealand will also take place simultaneously. Therefore, the players will have opportunities to rest, given that this tournament is not very lengthy.

"I'm confident every player is eager to stay fit and be counted, especially since there could be a series or two after the WPL. Not every nation will participate before heading to England for the T20 World Cup, so players must ensure they are ticking the right boxes individually," Anjum stated.

The WPL marks the first tournament since India's ODI World Cup victory, with Anjum Chopra anticipating increased fan engagement, despite the overall hype and buildup being somewhat subdued.

"With the Indian team having won a World Cup, every time they step onto the field, excitement and joy follow them. Now, for the first time after winning T20Is against Sri Lanka, this team will be divided into five distinct teams.

"The opening match will feature Smriti Mandhana against Harmanpreet Kaur. Therefore, it's an exhilarating time for women's cricket, and that's the most significant highlight. I hope this momentum continues to build day by day. While there may be slight dips, we are advancing individually and collectively, and I am confident that the interest in women's cricket will persist."