Gardner Takes Responsibility After Gujarat Giants Fall to Mumbai Indians
Gujarat Giants skipper Ash Gardner expressed clear disappointment following her team's loss to the Mumbai Indians in the Women's Premier League. The captain pointed directly to dropped catches and her own limited bowling as key factors in the defeat.
Missed Chances Prove Costly Against Ruthless Harmanpreet
Mumbai Indians secured their second consecutive WPL victory, moving to second place in the standings. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur played a brilliant unbeaten knock of 71 runs, but she received multiple reprieves as Gujarat fielders put down crucial catches.
Gardner acknowledged this during the post-match presentation. "Catches sometimes win matches," she stated plainly. "We prided ourselves on our fielding in the first two games. Tonight, you simply cannot afford to drop chances against world-class players."
The Australian all-rounder also admitted Harmanpreet has historically had the upper hand in their encounters. "If you look at the stats, I probably do not match up overly well against her. She's had the better of me in international cricket," Gardner conceded.
Captain Questions Her Own Bowling Decisions
In defending a target of 193 runs, Gardner utilized seven different bowling options. However, she gave herself just a single over, which conceded 10 runs. Only Renuka Singh and Kashvee Gautam bowled their full quota of four overs.
"As a captain, you sometimes underutilize yourself," Gardner reflected. She explained that with eight potential bowlers at her disposal, she felt other match-ups were stronger at the time. "Hindsight is wonderful. Maybe I was the better option. I can say that standing here after a loss."
She added that victory would have justified her choices, but defeat prompted this self-examination.
Praise for Middle-Order Firepower Despite Defeat
Gardner highlighted the positive performances from her team's middle order. She specifically mentioned Georgia Wareham's 43 not out and Bharti Fulmali's explosive 36 not out from just 15 balls.
"The best thing about our side is the firepower we have," she said. "Fulmali sets up her innings well and clears boundaries at the end. Wareham is also very capable. I felt 193 was a winning total, but when you don't take your chances, you pay."
Tough Call on Debutant Ayushi Soni
The captain also addressed the difficult decision to retire out debutant Ayushi Soni, who scored 11 runs from 14 balls. Gardner explained it was a team decision made to accelerate the scoring rate.
"I told her it was a team decision. She nodded, but I'm sure she was extremely disappointed," Gardner said. "It was her first WPL game, and there would have been nerves. We needed boundaries regularly at that stage."
Match Summary: Mumbai's Dominance Continues
Batting first, Gujarat Giants posted 192 for 5, powered by Wareham and Fulmali's late surge. In reply, Mumbai Indians chased down the target with four balls and seven wickets to spare.
After losing two early wickets, Harmanpreet Kaur anchored the chase with her unbeaten 71. She received strong support from Amanjot Kaur (40) and Nicola Carey (38 not out). This victory marks Mumbai's eighth win in eight matches against Gujarat Giants across WPL history.
The loss leaves Gujarat Giants reflecting on missed opportunities as the tournament progresses.
