Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has pointed out key balance issues in the Gujarat Giants’ squad following the WPL 2026 auction, suggesting that their team combination could pose challenges during the season.
Gujarat Giants rebuilt their squad at the auction, retaining Beth Mooney, spending ₹2 crore on Sophie Devine, and bringing in Renuka Singh Thakur to add experience and depth. However, Chopra believes the team lacks reliability compared to other franchises.
Chopra noted that Gujarat Giants may be forced to choose only one of Georgia Wareham or Kim Garth in their playing XI, which could affect team balance. According to him, the side also lacks settled Indian batters in the top order, unlike teams such as Mumbai, Delhi, UP Warriorz, or RCB.
He further pointed out that Yastika Bhatia’s return from injury is not guaranteed to strengthen the XI ahead of Richa Ghosh, leaving the batting line-up looking thin. Chopra added that playing Wareham for batting depth would mean leaving out Garth, while excluding Wareham could weaken the batting unit.
On the other hand, Veda Krishnamurthy praised Gujarat Giants’ auction strategy, highlighting the experience and flexibility offered by their overseas signings. She backed Beth Mooney to anchor the top order, with Ash Gardner playing a key role in the middle, and Sophie Devine providing balance across departments.
Former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim also felt Gujarat Giants finished the auction strongly despite a slow start. He lauded their pace attack, featuring Kashvee Gautam, Titas Sadhu, and Renuka Singh, and described the squad as a well-rounded unit with strong depth in both batting and bowling.
