WPL 2023: Beth Mooney returns to training for Gujarat Giants after sustaining injury in tournament opener

Gujarat Giants skipper Beth Mooney has returned to training after suffering an injury in the Women's Premier League (WPL) opener. Mooney sustained a leg injury during Gujarat Giants’ match against Mumbai Indians at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Mumbai on March 4.

The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side won the toss and elected to bat first in the curtain-raiser. With the skipper scoring a half-century, Mumbai Indians set a target of 207/5 for Gujarat Giants. 

While chasing a competitive total, the Gujarat Giants could only manage to score 64 runs and faced an embarrassing 143-run defeat in the opening match. For Mumbai Indians, Saika Ishaque claimed four wickets.

Gujarat Giants opener Mooney was seen hobbling off the ground after facing just four balls. The 29-year-old batter was also forced to miss her side’s subsequent match against UP Warriorz.
 
In the absence of the Aussie, India all-rounder Sneh Rana captained the side. However, Gujarat Giants suffered a second consecutive defeat as they went down against UP Warriorz by three wickets in a nail-biting thriller.

Ahead of Gujarat's third match against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday, some good news reached the camp as Mooney joined her teammates for training. Whether she plays in the upcoming clash or not will come to be known only with time.

Mooney came to take part in the cash-rich league after winning the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with Australia. The left-hander remained unbeaten in the summit clash against South Africa and led her side to win the ICC title for a third consecutive year. With this win, Australia claimed their sixth T20 World Cup title.

'I feel we may have to replace Mooney' - Rachael Haynes 

Earlier, Gujarat Giants head coach and Mooney's former Australia teammate Rachael Haynes had said that the captain might require to be replaced for the remainder of the tournament.

“I feel we may have to replace (Beth) Mooney. The scans that came out today, did not look that great. The medical team will take a look at the scans and they will take the last call,” Haynes said.

Mooney was bought by Gujarat Giants for INR 2 crore at the inaugural WPL Player Auction that was held on February 13 in Mumbai. The batting stalwart earlier revealed that it was former India skipper and current Giants' mentor Mithali Raj, who asked her to lead GG in the WPL. With the team now in real trouble after two early losses, all eyes would be on Mooney's recovery which every Gujarat fan would be dearly hoping for.

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