The Gujarat Giants have found themselves at the bottom of the points table in the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024, failing to secure a single win so far. One of the key factors behind their dismal performance has been the below-par batting and captaincy of Beth Mooney, as highlighted by former Gujarat Giants player Sushma Verma.
Mooney, who leads the side, has not been able to deliver with the bat, scoring only 48 runs at an average of 16.00 and a strike rate of 106.67 in three innings. Verma expressed her disappointment, stating, “Beth Mooney as a captain, but not leading from the front. She is not batting like that and that sort of approach is also not being seen.”
Verma also pointed out Mooney’s struggles with field placements and body language, suggesting that she might be struggling to understand the Indian players, the conditions, and the team’s limitations. The Giants have been unfortunate in losing all three tosses in the tournament so far and have been forced to bat first each time, failing to cross the 150-run mark in any innings.
In addition to Mooney, Verma noted that players like Ashleigh Gardner, Sneh Rana, and Dayalan Hemalatha have also not lived up to expectations. She emphasized the need for the batters to give defendable totals to the bowlers, especially considering the good form of the bowling unit.
The Giants face the Delhi Capitals in their final game of the Bengaluru leg of the tournament, looking to turn their fortunes around. With none of their players scoring a half-century yet, the team will be hoping for a collective effort to register their first win and climb up the points table.
Despite the challenges, Verma remains optimistic about the Giants’ chances, stating, “Someone should score runs at least for this team. Your bowlers are in form. They are doing better. You will have to give them a total to defend.” As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Mooney and her team as they aim to bounce back and make a mark in WPL 2024.
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