WPL 2023: Beth Mooney named captain of Gujarat Giants

Australia’s Beth Mooney has been named captain of Gujarat Giants for the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL). The wicketkeeper-batter will reunite with her former teammate Rachael Haynes, who has been appointed as Giants’ head coach. Team India off-spinner and all-rounder Sneh Rana will serve as the vice-captain.

Mooney was part of the Australia squad for the 2023 Women's T20 World Cup. The left-handed batter smashed a match-winning 74 not out in the summit clash against South Africa on February 26 to help Australia win their sixth Women's T20 World Cup title. "I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the Adani Gujarat Giants in the historic Women's Premier League's inaugural edition in 2023," Mooney said in a statement.

"The squad is keen to get the ball rolling soon and put out an entertaining and effective brand of cricket in the debut season of the WPL. It will be fantastic to have the likes of Sneh as my deputy and Mithali Raj, Rachael Haynes and Nooshin Al Khadeer as pivotal parts of the team," she added.

Notably, Mooney was also part of Australia's T20 World Cup-winning teams in 2018 and 2020. The 29-year-old batter won the 2022 ODI World Cup and the gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games last year. She has also won the Women's Big Bash League thrice, twice with Brisbane Heat and once with Perth Scorchers.

Meanwhile, captaining Gujarat Giants in the maiden season of WPL will be Mooney's first full-time experience in an overseas league. The franchise bought Mooney for INR 2 crore and Rana for INR 75 lakh in the WPL player auction earlier this month.

The Giants will face off Mumbai Indians in the tournament opener on March 4 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

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