WPL 2023: Who is the X-factor in Gujarat Giants team?

The eagerly anticipated Women’s IPL will start on March 4th, a Saturday, in Mumbai. Five clubs will compete for the title of WPL champion in the league’s inaugural season. Several experts commonly refer to the event as a “game changer” due to the excitement and hype it has created. The match will make big advancements for women’s cricket. The five teams taking part in the competition are Gujarat, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.

On Sunday, March 5, at 7:30 PM, the Gujarat Giants and the UP Warriorz will meet at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium. Both teams appear to be quite powerful, thus this game should be fascinating. The loss of Deandra Dottin is a big one for the Giants. Hence the captain, Beth Mooney needs to step up for the Giants and needs to have a consistent tournament with the bat. 

She comes from a typical Australian mindset and knows to fight hard till the last ball. She has told her side to be ‘brave’ on the field. 

“I’d rather see someone go out and try something they have been working on in training and perhaps get out, than go back into shell”, Mooney said ahead of the WPL. 

Consistent Performer and a Big Match Player

Beth Mooney was the player of the match in the final of the 2023 T20 World Cup scoring 74* off just 53 balls. From 2019, she took her batting to the next level with Healy and her scoring the match-winning partnership in the 2020 T20 World Cup final at the MCG. In ODIs, she recorded one of the best run-chase efforts when she scored an unbeaten 125 against India in Mackay.

Before going to the west to join Perth Scorchers, Mooney led Brisbane Heat to back-to-back WBBL wins in 2018 and 2019 with Player of the Match innings in both finals. She led the team in run scoring for two straight seasons and contributed to the Scorchers winning their first championship in 2021–2022.

Versatile and self-belief

She has utmost clarity in whatever she does and has enormous self-belief. Mooney has bailed the team out of trouble many times and has often been a thorn in the flesh of the opposition. 

Mooney is highly versatile and can bat at any position the team requires. She averages 40 with the bat and scores at a decent rate of 124.60. She is also lightning-quick behind the stumps. 

Leadership skills

 Mooney has received recognition for her outstanding leadership abilities, which have been demonstrated in her capacity to successfully guide her squad on the field. She has a solid grasp of the game, and her teammates appreciate her for maintaining her composure under pressure.

Based on her knowledge, abilities, and performance as a player and captain, Beth Mooney is seen as one of the best captains of the Women’s IPL. 

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