The Gujarat Giants are ready for the Women's Premier League (WPL) as they set their sights on the trophy after a productive WPL auction. The team managed to build an 18-player squad for the inaugural season of the WPL, with players from across the globe.

Out of the 18 players picked, the franchise purchased six overseas players including stalwarts of international cricket such as Ashleigh Gardner (Australia), Beth Mooney (Australia), and Deandra Dottin (West Indies).

After an intense bidding war, Australian all-rounder Gardner was the first name to become a part of the Gujarat Giants team. She also became the second-most expensive player of the WPL, being purchased for a whopping INR 3.2 crore, behind only India's Smriti Mandhana. Australian wicketkeeper Beth Mooney was the second biggest buy for the Gujarat franchise.

The Giants acquired the services of Sneh Rana for Rs 75 lakh, the highest among the Indian players for the team. Other Indian players picked included the likes of Sushma Verma, Harleen Deol and Tanuja Kanwer. A total of 11 all-rounders will be part of the team for the upcoming tournament.

Summarizing the Gujarat Giants WPL auction head coach, Rachael Haynes said, “Very happy. We got a lot of the players we were after and we're very happy with the squad at the end as well. It was a pretty unique experience but very glad to get through it and happy with how we came out the other side.”

Mentor and advisor of the Gujarat Giants team, Mithali Raj expressed her excitement at her first ever WPL auction experience saying, “I am quite happy the way it panned out. We got most of the players that we wanted, whether it's overseas, domestic players, U-19 players and uncapped players. I wouldn't say exactly the squad that we want but I think for a first timer, we pretty much have what we looked for.”

Gujarat Giants Squad: Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Sophia Dunkley, Annabel Sutherland, Harleen Deol, Deandra Dottin, Sneh Rana, S Meghana, Georgia Wareham, Mansi Joshi, D Hemalatha, Tanuja Kanwer, Monica Patel, Sushma Verma, Hurley Gala, Ashwani Kumari, Parunika Sisodia, Shabnam Shakil.