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Irrespective of who wins the third version of the Ladies’s Premier League, the season might be recognized for the feisty resurgence of the Gujarat Giants. Condemned to the underside of the desk for the final two editions, the Giants’ marketing campaign was eerily headed the identical means early this season as properly.
Nevertheless, a three-game successful streak turned the tide and the staff pipped defending champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru and UP Warriorz (which made the Eliminator in season one) to complete third and make the playoffs.
The Giants’ journey is all the pieces the league wished for its dream storyline. A staff eyeing redemption, injured and scorned gamers returning to the fold, a home participant pool that was desirous to make an impression – it was all of the crockpot.
Gujarat Giants’ dugout the WPL Eliminator Match between Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants held at CCI Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.
| Photograph Credit score:
EMMANUAL YOGINI
Gujarat Giants’ dugout the WPL Eliminator Match between Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants held at CCI Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.
| Photograph Credit score:
EMMANUAL YOGINI
Whereas the aspect was on the finish of an unflattering 0-6 head-to-head file with the Mumbai Indians – having by no means crushed them in league historical past – its comeback arc and the levelling skills of knockouts made loyalists hope. Nevertheless it wasn’t to be.
On Thursday, the Giants, which confirmed a lot promise within the dying moments of the league stage, fizzled out pretty rapidly on a sizzling and humid Mumbai night. An unlucky metaphor for the loss turned out to be skipper Ashleigh Gardner.
A humid ending
All season, the Australian all-rounder has been in scintillating type. Ending with 243 runs in 9 video games averaging round 30, she additionally managed eight wickets by way of the season.
Gardner’s largest energy has been her capability to position a chokehold on runs. Her tempo variations and switch are stuff of nightmares. Ask somebody like Smriti Mandhana whose wicket she usually claims.
This season, she had the extra duty of donning the captain’s armband. Her subject placements, bowling rotations and skill to remain calm and carry an innings on her shoulders with the bat all earned her management glowing opinions. Her vitality to that primary XI additionally made her a pure alternative after Beth Mooney steered on the finish of the season final yr that the franchise ought to appoint somebody who can do the job higher.
Gardner has had the help of her compatriot, who operates from the perfect seat in the home – behind the stumps. It was not unusual to see the pair focus on technique and fielding constructions for various batters. It was a system that labored till it didn’t.
Within the Eliminator, an undue quantity of stress was thrust upon Mooney to include the balls shifting away from the batter. There was no slip in place notably for MI opener Hayley Matthews who was struggling to get going in opposition to Danielle Gibson and Gardner early on. She maximised on Priya Mishra’s inexperience to resuscitate her effort.
As soon as Matthews was on music, there was no stopping her. Gardner didn’t function with the ball after the tenth over and ended up dropping Matthews within the fifteenth over as properly. This in addition to permitting a number of deliveries to run away for boundaries.
Head coach Michael Klinger had not spoken to his skipper earlier than fronting the media, however mentioned the intention to take wickets meant Gardner didn’t bowl herself out.
Ashleigh Gardner (c) of Gujarat Giants bowling in the course of the eliminator match of the Ladies’s Premier League 2025 (WPL) between the Mumbai Indians and the Gujarat Giants held on the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, India on the thirteenth March 2025.
| Photograph Credit score:
Sportzpics for WPL
Ashleigh Gardner (c) of Gujarat Giants bowling in the course of the eliminator match of the Ladies’s Premier League 2025 (WPL) between the Mumbai Indians and the Gujarat Giants held on the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, India on the thirteenth March 2025.
| Photograph Credit score:
Sportzpics for WPL
“Probably, at the end, I think she felt with TK (Tanuja Kanwer) bowling that second last over from there and the ball not spinning towards the side with two right handers, maybe she decided to hold herself back. She started the game really well, but decided to use Priya (Mishra) as a wicket taker in the middle. It wasn’t her night today. Sometimes, these things happen. You try and rotate the bowlers. It works and it doesn’t.”
With 213 conceded, Gardner first noticed Mooney return for a paltry six runs. Harleen Deol fell quickly after. Gardner wanted to channel the momentum of the three 50+ scores she had registered this season (79* and 58 vs RCB within the opener and 52 vs UP Warriorz).
She began with intent, slogging Matthews for a six over lengthy on. However she went on to outlive solely two extra deliveries. The West Indian all-rounder despatched one angling exterior off and Gardner was deceived by each the tempo and the flip of the supply as she swung her bat and missed. The ball gently clipped the highest of the off stump and any remaining hope of the Giants successful the fixture and pulling off a miraculous run to the ultimate.
Ashleigh Gardner (c) of Gujarat Giants going again to pavilion in the course of the eliminator match of the Ladies’s Premier League 2025 (WPL) between the Mumbai Indians and the Gujarat Giants held on the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, India on the thirteenth March 2025.
| Photograph Credit score:
Sportzpics for WPL
Ashleigh Gardner (c) of Gujarat Giants going again to pavilion in the course of the eliminator match of the Ladies’s Premier League 2025 (WPL) between the Mumbai Indians and the Gujarat Giants held on the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, India on the thirteenth March 2025.
| Photograph Credit score:
Sportzpics for WPL
“Hopefully we are treading in the right direction,” the GG captain mentioned after the loss. “For our fans, who have backed us this season, it was nice to get some wins and play in front of the home crowd. Hopefully we can keep growing on that. Just awesome to be involved in this franchise for three years and to see it grow exponentially.”
Losses are by no means down to at least one participant, but when there was an individual who could possibly be an emblem for GG – by way of its good instances and dangerous – it was the first-time captain of the franchise. Age-old points – dependence on the international bunch, insufficient large match expertise for the home pool and meek give up to stress – stopped the aspect from scripting a fairytale.
There’s loads of promise in what Gardner has managed to carry to the outfit and the way she’s rallied the younger crop of Indian gamers. With the abroad pool and the home bunch gelling higher than earlier than this season, the one means for the franchise is ahead.
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