The highly anticipated third season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is here, and Gujarat Giants are geared up for their home debut. They will take on the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, at the new BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Friday, February 14.
Ahead of the much-awaited match, Head Coach Michael Klinger and Captain Ashleigh Gardner shared their insights on the team’s readiness for the season and their excitement about playing at home for the first time.
Building the Gujarat Giants Fanbase
Klinger expressed his anticipation for the support of Gujarat fans, particularly those from Vadodara and the surrounding regions. “Our first three games are in front of a Gujarat crowd. Hopefully, not just from Baroda, but fans from across the region will come in, wear orange, and support us. Last year, we had to play against RCB in Bangalore and Delhi Capitals in Delhi, and they had some big crowds there. It would be great if we can create the same atmosphere here,” said Klinger.
Captain Gardner, leading the side for the first time, was equally excited. “We get to play in front of our home fans for the first time, which is exciting. I feel like we’ve built a really strong base with our fans, and hopefully, we can start the season the way we really want to—especially here at home, playing in front of our fans.”
Home Matches in Vadodara
In their home leg, Gujarat Giants will face UP Warriorz on February 16, followed by Mumbai Indians on February 18. Klinger was optimistic about the conditions at the BCA Stadium, adding, “The stadium looks fantastic, and from all reports, the wicket is really good—a proper batting wicket that will hopefully produce a lot of runs, mainly for our team, but either way, it’ll make for exciting cricket for the crowd.”
Aggressive Approach for the Season
Gujarat Giants are set to take a bold, attacking approach to the season. “I think you can expect some attacking cricket,” said Klinger. “I feel we have the squad now, with the batting depth and firepower, to play really aggressively. We’ve set some targets that we’re looking to achieve, and we’re certainly aiming to play entertaining cricket.”
Gardner echoed this sentiment, noting the team’s potential. “With the team we have at the moment, I think we can play some really competitive and exciting cricket, which is really cool,” she said.
Fielding Focus and Energy
Klinger emphasized the importance of fielding, calling it a non-negotiable aspect of the team’s approach. “But more than anything, I hope people see us as an enthusiastic group with a lot of energy. That will be most evident in our fielding because, for us, that’s a non-negotiable,” he concluded.
The Gujarat Giants will begin their WPL 2025 campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on February 14.
