Photo:BCCI
Mithali Raj stepped in to save Gujarat Giants after they were eliminated from the first Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Gujarat Giants finished last in the five-team competition, having lost six of their eight games. Nevertheless, Mithali, who was hired as GG’s mentor, defended the squad, claiming that the WPL season was beset by injuries, which affected the team balance.
Beth Mooney, GG’s captain, had a calf injury and was finally ruled out of the competition after their first match. Deandra Dottin, who was changed on the eve of the event, was also a source of contention for the Gujarat-based team. When GG claimed Dottin failed to provide a medical clearance, Dottin blamed the franchise.
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Mithali stated that the think tank formed a “good team,” and the players shown guts and spirit during the short competition.
“Honestly, we did put up a good team, but the results were not in our favour and the season didn’t go our way. We lost key players early on, and it dented our composition. But despite this hiccup the team stepped up and showed their grit and passion to win,” Mithali said in a statement.
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GG head coach Rachael Haynes stated that the early departure of important players harmed the team and that reshuffling combinations was a difficult undertaking.
“This was certainly, an exciting and enriching experience for me as head coach for such a wonderful team. Undoubtedly, we had our tough moments, but the team put up a riveting performance and showed a lot of character during every match. We all are taking with us many positives and pivotal life-lessons from this inaugural session,” said Haynes.
“As we take a step back and take a moment to pause and reflect at the season, it does hurt to lose out on key players before the end of the first game, and shuffling the deck in terms of playing combinations was not an easy decision, but this allowed every player to showcase their potential and we are happy about it.”
Also Read: IPL 2023: Match Timings, What to Carry, and What Not to Carry to the Stadium (cricfiles.com)
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