Captaincy does potentially bring the best out of me: Gardner

Ashleigh Gardner, a rising star in cricket, takes on captaincy at Gujarat Giants with impressive performances and team spirit.

Ashleigh Gardner hasn’t yet had a chance to show her captaincy credentials at the highest level. But when the Gujarat Giants think-tank decided to end Beth Mooney’s two-year reign at the helm of the franchise before this year’s Women’s Premier League (WPL), the franchise had an obvious successor in Gardner. The 27-year-old from Sydney is one of the world’s leading all-rounders, and a strong contender to take the leadership mantle of the formidable Australian team at some stage in the future.

Nevertheless, Gardner’s challenge was steep at Gujarat Giants. The team had finished bottom of the table in each of the last two seasons, and her own form wasn’t befitting her towering stature in the game.

“Leading this team was always something that I was willing to do. I felt like I’ve built a really good rapport with the local girls,” Gardner told The Hindu in an interview on Tuesday. “And making sure that I’m spending time and actually getting to know them, which breaks down any barriers that there might be between internationals and local players. Potentially it does bring the best out of me.”

The numbers seem to back up that claim. With the bat, Gardner has already had her best season so far — 213 runs in six matches, including three half-centuries, have come at an average of 42.6 and a strike rate of 165.11. GG has also bounced back with two successive wins after a shaky beginning to occupy second spot in the standings.

“The first two WPL seasons didn’t go the way that we would have planned. I think we had some fantastic players within the set-up,” she assessed. “But I think looking at the players that we have this time around, it just has a different feel about it. Everyone seems to be really enjoying themselves. And I think ultimately when people are enjoying themselves and having fun, it does bring success.”