Ash Gardner named Gujarat Giants captain ahead of Women’s Premier League 2026

Ash Gardner (L) replaces Beth Mooney as Gujarat Giants captain. (BCCI)

Australian allrounder Ashleigh Gardner was appointed captain of the Gujarat Giants on Monday, ahead of the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL). Gardner, who led the franchise in the 2025 edition as well, was one of the two retained players, along with Beth Mooney, ahead of the mega auction in November.

“Experience in her stride. Belief in her voice. Ash Gardner steps up once more as our CAPTAIN, primed to take us to glory,” the Giants wrote on X, while making the announcement on Monday.

Experience in her stride.Belief in her voice. ❤️‍🔥 — Gujarat Giants (@Giant_Cricket) December 29, 2025

Gardner played 25 matches for the Giants in the first three seasons, scoring 567 runs at a strike rate of 141.75 with five half-centuries. She also took 25 wickets at an economy rate of 8.34. After two disappointing outings in the first two seasons, Gardner led the Giants to a Playoff finish in the third season, where they lost in the Eliminator clash.

Gardner will captain a squad that has other quality Australian players like Kim Garth and Georgia Wareham. There are also other established international names, such as Sophie Devine and Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, all of whom will look to help the franchise win its maiden title this season. They will start their campaign against UP Warriorz in Navi Mumbai on January 10.

The upcoming WPL season will take place a few months before the T20 World Cup in England. Gardner admitted recently that the last few World Cups had been frustrating for Australia, but added that they were still the best team in the world.

“The last couple of World Cups have been frustrating because of the way that they’ve ended. But I can sit here comfortably and say that I still believe that we’re the best team. It’s just making sure that we’re showing that in those moments where it really matters.”

“So I’m certainly thinking about June next year, it seems like a long time away, but it realistically isn’t, and it’ll come around very quickly,” she told AAP.