WPL 2025: Gujarat Giants - Full Squad, Strength And Weakness Analysis

Jatin

Gujarat Giants SWOT Anaylsis [Source: @giantscricket/x.com]Gujarat Giants SWOT Anaylsis [Source: @giantscricket/x.com]

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The third edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 is almost here, and fans can't wait for the action to unfold. Unfortunately, Gujarat Giants haven't had much luck in the first two seasons, finishing last both times with just two wins in each season.

With a new brand of cricket and fresh faces in their squad, the Giants will be desperate to rewrite their story and finally make their mark in WPL 2025. The Gujarat Giants team management has handed the captaincy to Ashleigh Gardner, hoping her all-round brilliance and leadership can change their fortunes.

Let's take a closer look at Gujarat Giants' squad for WPL 2025 and analyse their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) for the upcoming season.

Batters: Beth Mooney (wk), Laura Wolvaardt, Simran Shaikh, Harleen Deol, Phoebe Litchfield, Dayalan Hemalatha


All-rounders: Ashleigh Gardner (c), Deandra Dottin, Danielle Gibson, Mannat Kashyap, Sayali Satghare


Bowlers: Meghna Singh, Shabnam Shakil, Priya Mishra, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwar, Bharti Fulmali, Prakashika Naik

Strengths Of Gujarat Giants In WPL 2025

Formidable Opening Partnership

Gujarat Giants’ strength lies in their opening pair of Beth Mooney and Laura Wolvaardt. The duo was in sensational form in the WBBL 2024-25, with the Australian leading the charts as one of the most consistent performers. While Mooney is famous for her calmness, Wolvaardt is all about aggressive shots, which makes them a dangerous combination at the top.

Laura Wolvaardt and Beth Mooney [Source: @giantscricket/x.com]Laura Wolvaardt and Beth Mooney [Source: @giantscricket/x.com]

Ashleigh Gardner’s All-Round Brilliance

The newly appointed skipper, Ashleigh Gardner, is a three-dimensional player who can win matches with bat and ball, and she has an electric presence in the field. Gardner was the 4th highest wicket-taker in the WBBL 2024-25 and has experience in playing in Indian conditions. With her captaincy, Gardner will be key to Gujarat Giants' success this season.

Weaknesses Of Gujarat Giants In WPL 2025

Over-Reliance on Overseas Players

The Giants have stacked their squad with experienced foreign players, which could be a double-edged sword. While the likes of Gardner, Mooney, Wolvaardt, and Dottin bring international experience, the lack of solid Indian backups might hurt them. If injuries or form slumps hit their overseas stars, the Giants could find themselves struggling to stay competitive.

Fragile Bowling Attack

The pace-bowling department lacks an out-and-out match-winner. Although Meghna Singh and Shabnam Shakil are capable bowlers, neither has been consistent enough to lead the attack. The Giants will need someone to step up if they are to avoid relying solely on Gardner's off-spin to deliver breakthroughs.

Opportunities for Gujarat Giants In WPL 2025

Captaincy Boost for Ashleigh Gardner

Taking over the captaincy is a massive opportunity for Ashleigh Gardner to prove herself as a leader. She has already achieved plenty in her career, including being Player of the Tournament at the T20 World Cup 2023, and her leadership could inspire the team to punch above their weight.

Simran Shaikh’s Breakout Moment

Simran Shaikh, the most expensive player for Gujarat Giants in the WPL 2025 mini-auction (bought for ₹1.90 crore), has a golden chance to shine. Coming from Asia's largest slum, Dharavi, her story is extremely inspirational. If she finds her rhythm, she could be the game-changer Gujarat needs in the middle order.

Threats For Gujarat Giants In WPL 2025

Lack Of Bowling Depth

In a format where one bad over can turn the game on its head, Gujarat Giants' inexperienced pace attack could become a liability. If the domestic pacers fail to deliver, the pressure on their spinners will increase, and the team might find it tough to defend totals.

Mental Scars From Past Seasons

Finishing last in the first two seasons is bound to leave mental scars. The Giants will need to move on from their past failures and focus on building momentum early in the tournament. If they start slow, it could ruin their campaign once again.

Evaluation Of Gujarat Giants Squad For WPL 2025

Gujarat Giants have spiced things up with some fresh signings and a new skipper in Ashleigh Gardner. Their batting looks sorted with a strong top order and some serious firepower from all-rounders. But the bowling is a bit shaky, and their success will depend a lot on how well the Indian players show up when it matters.

Rating: 6.5/10

Prediction For Gujarat Giants in WPL 2025

If Ashleigh Gardner is at her very best and the overseas stars stay on point, the Giants might just sneak into the playoffs. But with a weak bowling attack and too much riding on a few players, a mid-table finish seems more likely unless the Indian crew brings their A-game.