Gujarat Giants adopted a targeted approach at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 mini-auction in Kochi on Wednesday, securing all three players they had identified to strengthen their squad.The franchise entered the auction with 15 retained players and a remaining purse of Rs 1.25 crore for three slots, including one overseas spot. Having spent Rs 13.75 crore on retentions, the Giants signed Indian wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini, Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast and uncapped Indian all-rounder Samaira Raghav to complete their squad.
Speaking exclusively to Reporter World, Head coach Michael Klinger explained how the franchise secured its targets while keeping its auction plans straightforward.
The Giants’ first signing was Kamalini, who was released by Mumbai Indians ahead of the auction. The franchise secured the 18-year-old for Rs 40 lakh, well below the Rs 1.6 crore Mumbai Indians had paid for her at the 2024 auction. Klinger admitted that the franchise had anticipated competition for the young wicketkeeper-batter and did not anticipate signing her for such a low price.
“We thought we’d have two teams bidding, actually, to be honest, with us. So we felt if that was going to happen, we may miss her. You know, other teams had some different ideas, which helped us out,” he said.
Kamalini first attracted attention after captaining Tamil Nadu’s Under-19 team to a national title in 2024. She went on to represent Mumbai Indians in 14 WPL matches, scoring 107 runs at an average of 15.28 and a strike rate of 104.90, with a highest score of 32. An injury midway through the 2026 season curtailed her campaign.
The left-handed batter made her T20I debut against Sri Lanka in late 2025. In five appearances for India in the format, she has scored 30 runs at a strike rate of 103.44, with a highest score of 15 not out.
Klinger believes Kamalini’s potential with the bat could give the Giants an additional option when they finalise their playing XI.
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After securing Kamalini, the Giants turned to overseas reinforcements, signing Ireland’s Prendergast to strengthen their all-round options. The WPL debutant brings considerable international experience, having scored 2,054 runs and taken 69 wickets in 88 Women’s T20 Internationals. She has also featured in franchise competitions, including The Hundred, the Women’s Big Bash League and the Women’s Caribbean Premier League.
Klinger is familiar with Prendergast’s abilities, having worked with her at Welsh Fire in The Hundred, and believes her versatility will be a significant asset.
“I was lucky enough to work with her in The Hundred at Welsh Fire, and she gives us a lot of versatility in the squad,” he said. The signing also strengthens the Giants' overseas options, although it leaves the coaching staff with a selection dilemma ahead of the new season.
“It’s going to be extremely hard to pick four overseas from the six that we have, so that’s a good problem to have. It’s tough for the coaching staff, but it makes our squad really strong,” Klinger added.
The Giants completed their business by signing uncapped all-rounder Samaira Raghav at her base price of Rs 10 lakh. The move left the franchise with Rs 45 lakh remaining. With all three targets secured, Klinger joked about the money left unspent. “We have had some spare money in the bank, you know, for our owners to maybe put a few more social functions on for us,” he said.
Reflecting on the auction, the head coach said the Giants had a clear plan despite having limited opportunities to make changes to their squad. “Yeah, I mean, it was an easy one to plan in some ways, because we only had, you know, anywhere between one and three selections. So we ended up getting the three players we were after,” Klinger said.
With their squad now in place, the Giants will look to build on their recent playoff appearances and take the next step in their WPL campaign.
The franchise has reached the playoffs twice but is yet to feature in a WPL final. Having played in the Eliminator in each of the last two seasons, the Giants will be eager to turn that progress into a title challenge in 2027.
“We’re very excited with the squad that we have. Every team looks really strong, to be honest, now, and it’s going to be up to the teams and then the players who play the best and play the best under pressure,” he said. “As with every team, we’re going in to win it. We’ve played two Eliminators in the last two years, and we definitely want to go one step further. But if you ask every other team, they’re going to be thinking the same thing.”
The head coach also stressed the importance of consistency in a short tournament, where a single poor performance can prove costly. “When you get into tournament mode, you’ve got to be switched on because a slip-up here and there can cost you a game,” he added.
The 2027 WPL season is scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7.