Gujarat Giants, the Adani Sportsline-owned franchise, is gearing up for the second season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) with Australian batter Beth Mooney reclaiming her role as captain, and Indian all-rounder Sneh Rana named as her deputy. The announcement was made by the franchise on Wednesday, placing Mooney and Rana in the leadership forefront alongside head coach Michael Klinger, mentor and advisor Mithali Raj, and assistant coach Nooshin Al Khadeer.
Mooney, who captained Gujarat Giants in the inaugural WPL season, had to leave the tournament after the first game due to injury. Now back as captain, she expressed her delight, saying, “I am delighted to be back with Gujarat Giants and grateful for the team’s trust in me. We have a fantastic squad, and I am confident we will put up a good show. It is good WPL will be played in Bengaluru and New Delhi, which are new to the tournament.”
Beth Mooney recognized as one of the best batters in international T20 cricket, brings an impressive track record. Her accolades include being part of the T20 World Cup-winning squad in 2014, 2018, 2020, and 2023, as well as winning the 2022 ODI World Cup and Gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Racking up 24 half-centuries, she holds the second-most by a batter in T20I cricket and was named Wisden’s Leading Woman Cricketer in the World in 2021 and 2022.
Sneh Rana, an off-break bowler and right-handed batter, emerges as a key figure in Indian cricket. Leading Gujarat Giants in the first WPL season due to Mooney’s injury, Rana impressed with 6 wickets in 7 innings. She looks forward to supporting Beth Mooney in the upcoming season and said, “Mooney and Rana are stalwarts, and we at Adani Sportsline are delighted to have them leading the team.”
Gujarat Giants, opening their campaign on February 25 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru against Mumbai Indians, aims to build on its successful legacy in the Women’s Premier League.
–IANS