In the inaugural Women’s Premier League 2023 Auction, Australian cricketer Ashleigh Gardner was purchased by the Gujarat Giants for a whopping INR 3.20 crore.
A fierce bidding battle erupted between Mumbai Indians, UP Warriorz, and Gujarat Giants over Ash Gardner’s opening bid price of INR 50 lakh. The Giants eventually won the conflict.
At the auction in Mumbai, a total of 409 players will be up for grabs, including 246 Indians and 163 foreign players. The overall number of capped players is 202, while the number of uncapped players is 199. There are a maximum of 90 slots available among the five teams, with 30 reserved for international players.
From 4 to 26 March, the inaugural season of the WPL will be played in Mumbai. Gujarat Giants, UP Warriorz, Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, and Royal Challengers Bangalore will compete in a total of 22 matches. The Brabourne Stadium and D.Y. Patil Stadium will serve as the venues for this prestigious competition.
Ashleigh Gardner is a two-time T20 World Cup champion with Australia, and her batting and deft off-spin make her an indispensable component in all formats. The 25-year-old was awarded the Belinda Clark Award as Australia’s top female international player for the 2021-22 season. Gardner is now the top T20I all-rounder and was the tournament MVP at the 2008 WBBL. She made her T20I debut against New Zealand in February 2017 and her ODI debut against the same opponent shortly thereafter.
In 2019, she received her Baggy Green from fellow Indigenous player Dan Christian, making her the third Indigenous player and second woman to play a Test for Australia. In January 2015, Gardner topped the runs tally in Cricket Australia’s Under-18 Championships, while also leading New South Wales to the title and claiming the Player of the Championship award. She was a standout performer from the very beginning of her playing career.
She won Player of the Tournament at the 2015 Imparja Cup and represented Australia’s development side at the Shooting Stars before national selectors called her up for her accomplishments with bat and ball for the Sydney Sixers.
Aapdi peli #Giant! 🤩#GiantArmy, welcome the stunning Aussie all-rounder 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐫. 🥳#WPL #WPLAuction | @akgardner97 @wplt20 pic.twitter.com/9tte8eAmhK
— Gujarat Giants (@GujaratGiants) February 13, 2023
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