Ahead of WPL Auctions, Gujarat Giants Release Mithali Raj as Mentor

Ahead of the WPL 2025 auction, former Indian captain Mithali Raj is expected to step down as coach of the Gujarat Giants, a team in the women's Premier League. According to reports, Mithali Raj chose to leave the team after agreeing to a three-year contract. Gujarat finished last in the table with four points in each of the first two WPL seasons. A significant surprise given that the finalist for the 2017 Women's World Cup has a three-year contract to serve as the team's mentor and advisor. Before the competition, the management is making some important decisions. 

Following the Indian Premier League, the WPL 2025 auction is scheduled to take place on December 15. Some of the best women's cricket players from across the globe will compete in this tournament, which is in its third year. It will be exciting to watch which team advances to the next round of the auction as the top team.

WPL Auctions updates:

According to a source, the Andhra Cricket Association hired the former batter as the coach of women's cricket operations for a three-year term with the "specific objective of scouting and grooming young talent across the State." According to the rumor, the Giants' bowling coach Nooshin Al Khadeer would be joining the team with Mithali. The women's U-19 team is now coached by Nooshin as well.

Mithali Raj and Gujarat Giants part ways ahead of WPL auctions.

Details: https://t.co/rz1UNMiFAv#wplauction #wpl #mithaliraj pic.twitter.com/7qp8KrdbFa

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) December 11, 2024

Given their results in the previous two seasons, the Gujarat Giants team appears to be undergoing some significant adjustments. Given that the Giants have placed last in the league for the past two seasons, some adjustments must be made. With the retention of players like Beth Mooney, Laura Wolvaardt, and Ashleigh Gardener, the squad still has a comparatively solid core despite management changes.

In the meanwhile, on December 15 in Bengaluru, 120 players will participate in the WPL 2025 mini-auction. There are 29 players from outside, including three from partner clubs, and 91 Indians in all. Five of the 19 places available for the five franchises can be occupied by players from other countries.

Watch this space for more cricket news.