Captain Ashleigh Gardner creates WPL history and equals one top WPL record

During the WPL 2025 opener, Gujarat Giants captain Ashleigh Gardner created a new history as a skipper and equaled one all-time WPL record with her powerful batting performance.  

After the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Smriti Mandhana chose to field first in the WPL 2025 opener, Gujarat Giants put in a massive total of 201/5 in 20 overs, which is the joint fourth-highest WPL total but the highest WPL total for Giants. 

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Ashleigh Gardner became the first captain to hit more than five sixes in a WPL innings

In Giants’ innings, opener Beth Mooney scored 56 off 42 balls with eight fours, while the skipper Ashleigh Gardner smashed 79 off 37 balls with three fours and eight sixes. It was the record number sixes by a captain in a WPL innings as Gardner broke Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s record of five sixes against Gujarat Giants when she scored 95 not out in 48 balls last year.  

Ashleigh Gardner equalled the record for most sixes in a WPL innings by a batter

Meanwhile, with eight sixes, Gardner equalled the record for most sixes in a WPL innings by a batter. During the inaugural edition in 2023, Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Sophie Devine smashed eight sixes against Gujarat Giants. In that match, Devine scored 99 runs, which is still the highest individual score in a WPL innings.  

Most sixes in an innings by a batter in WPL history

Highest totals in WPL history