Gujarat Giants Finalise 18-Player Squad Ahead of WPL 2027
Gujarat Giants complete WPL 2027 squad with three new signings
G. Kamalini, Orla Prendergast and Samaira Raghav join the Ahmedabad franchise as it prepares for the next season after reaching the 2026 Eliminator.
Gujarat Giants have completed their squad for the 2027 Women’s Premier League (WPL), signing three players at the auction held at Grand Hyatt, Kochi, on 28 October. The Ahmedabad-based team, owned by Adani Sportsline, picked G. Kamalini, Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast and 16-year-old batter Samaira Raghav to fill its remaining places.
The franchise entered the auction with 15 retained players, three available slots and ₹1.25 crore in its purse. It spent ₹80 lakh on the three new players, taking the squad to 18 members.
The signings come after Gujarat Giants finished second in the group stage of the 2026 WPL, winning five of their eight matches before reaching the Eliminator. The team will now look to improve on that campaign when the next season begins.
G. Kamalini, a left-handed batter from Tamil Nadu, was bought for ₹40 lakh. Prendergast joined for ₹30 lakh, while Samaira Raghav was picked at her base price of ₹10 lakh.
The three players bring different skills to the squad. Kamalini is expected to provide an attacking option at the top of the batting order. Prendergast offers batting and medium-pace bowling, while Raghav adds another middle-order batter who can score quickly.
Kamalini has already played in the WPL. Mumbai Indians bought her for ₹1.6 crore at the 2025 auction, following her performances in youth cricket. She was part of India’s winning team at the 2025 ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup, where she scored 143 runs in seven matches and finished third among the tournament’s leading run-scorers.
Her new contract with Gujarat Giants is worth ₹40 lakh. The move gives her a fresh chance to earn a regular place in a team that has retained several experienced players.
Prendergast, who represents Ireland, is a right-arm medium pacer and middle-order batter. Her role as an all-rounder gives Gujarat Giants another option when choosing their playing eleven. She will make her WPL debut in 2027.
Samaira Raghav, aged 16, is the youngest of the three new signings. She is a middle-order batter with a reported strike rate of 200. Gujarat Giants have picked her at the auction’s base price, giving the teenager an opportunity to play in one of the leading women’s franchise cricket competitions.
The franchise’s management has placed emphasis on bringing young players into the team. Sanjay Adesara, Chief Business Officer of Adani Sportsline, said the team had entered the auction with a strong retained group and a clear idea of what it needed.
“We entered the auction with a strong retained core and a clear idea of what the squad needed. We are pleased with the players we have brought in. G. Kamalini, Orla Prendergast and Samaira Raghav each add something specific, whether it is aggression at the top, all-round quality or fearless hitting in the middle order. Our belief is in unearthing young talents and nurturing them. Kashvee Gautam, Anushka Sharma and Happy Kumari reflect the strength of our scouting programme, and we are hopeful that 16-year-old like Samaira is the next in line. The aim is to build a team that plays fearless cricket and contributes to the growth of the game for women in Gujarat and across the country.”
Head Coach Michael Klinger said the team had used its pre-season camp in Bengaluru to assess the squad and decide where it needed more players.
“The players did well last season and gave us a strong foundation to build on. Our pre-season camp in Bengaluru helped us assess the squad and identify the areas we needed to strengthen. Kamalini gives us an aggressive option throughout the batting order, Orla brings real all-round quality as a wicket-taking medium pacer, and Samaira adds explosive power in the middle order. The new signings complement our retained players and give us more options. We are pleased with how the squad has come together and look forward to the season ahead.”
The WPL began in 2023 with five teams: Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz. The league has given Indian and overseas women cricketers a chance to play together in a professional T20 competition.
For Gujarat Giants, the next season will be another test of how well its mix of established international players and young Indian talent can perform. The team has retained a large part of its previous squad, including captain Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham and Renuka Singh.
The retained group also includes Anushka Sharma, Bharti Fulmali, Happy Kumari, Jintimani Kalita, Kanika Ahuja, Kashvee Gautam, Kim Garth, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Tanuja Kanwer and Yastika Bhatia.
The final squad has 18 players, with G. Kamalini, Orla Prendergast and Samaira Raghav joining the 15 retained cricketers. Gujarat Giants will now prepare for the 2027 season, hoping to build on their 2026 run and make another push for the title.
