The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 season got more interesting with the announcement of South Africa batter Laura Wolvaardt being roped in by the Gujarat Giants. Wolvaardt will replace the injured captain Beth Mooney for the remainder of the season.
Mooney suffered a knee injury during the tournament opener against Mumbai Indians last week. Though she’s gutted to be missing the rest of the season, she’s looking forward to coming back stronger, fitter, and hungrier next season. Despite the setback, she’s still rooting for her team and will be keeping a close eye on their performance from afar.
Mooney expressed disappointment at not being able to continue playing this season, stating, “I was looking forward to the maiden WPL season with the Adani Gujarat Giants. But unfortunately, injuries are part and parcel of the sport and I am gutted to be missing the remainder of the season.”
Wolvaardt’s Role for the Gujarat Giants
Wolvaardt, on the other hand, is coming on the back of a successful T20 World Cup campaign at home in South Africa. She was the standout performer for her team, finishing as the tournament’s highest run-getter with 230 runs. It’s no wonder why the Gujarat Giants were quick to snatch her up as soon as they got wind of her availability.
While the Giants are yet to officially announce the signing of Wolvaardt, the PCB had confirmed that she had left her ‘Super Women’ team to join them. This move has been met with excitement by fans who can’t wait to see what the talented batter brings to the table.
As for the Giants’ new signing, Wolvaardt, she is expected to play a key role in the team’s batting, especially after scoring an unbeaten 53 in her only appearance for Super Women in the Women’s League.
Wolvaardt was thrilled to have been allowed to play in Pakistan and expressed her gratitude to the PCB, saying, “It has been an incredible short journey, but I have loved the experience. The team has been amazing and I have felt so welcoming.”
It’s no surprise that Wolvaardt was unsold in the WPL 2023 auction back in February. Still, her performances in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Women’s League exhibition matches have undoubtedly caught the attention of many.
The Gujarat Giants’ Statement
The Giants are confident that Wolvaardt will bring some of the best cricketing action to the squad, and they are excited to see her explosive batting style. However, they will miss the energy and leadership of Beth Mooney, who was picked up for INR 2 crore (US$ 244,000 approx.) during the WPL auction last month.
The team’s Head Coach, Rachael Haynes, expressed her disappointment at Mooney’s absence but wished her a speedy recovery. She added that the team was excited to welcome Wolvaardt to the squad and was looking forward to a great season of cricket.
Mithali Raj, the team’s Mentor, and Advisor, echoed Haynes’ sentiments, stating that the team would miss Mooney’s energy but was thrilled to welcome Wolvaardt to the squad. She also expressed her confidence in Sneh Rana, who will now captain the team in Mooney’s absence, and Ashleigh Gardner, who has been named the new vice-captain.
The WPL 2023 season got a whole lot more exciting with the arrival of Laura Wolvaardt. Fans can’t wait to see what she brings to the table and how she’ll help the Gujarat Giants overcome the obstacles that come their way.
