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The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 is gearing up for its highly anticipated start on February 23 in Bengaluru. With the opening clash between last year’s finalists, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, fans are eagerly awaiting the action-packed tournament. As teams prepare to battle it out, there’s already been a significant development in the camp of the Gujarat Giants.
Gujarat Giants’ coaching shake-up
In a surprising move, the Gujarat Giants have bid farewell to their former head coach, Rachael Haynes, and welcomed aboard a new mentor for the upcoming season. Michael Klinger, a former Australian cricketer with an impressive coaching record, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Giants.
Background and expectations
Klinger, renowned for his stint as a coach in the male and female editions of Big Bash League (BBL), brings a wealth of experience to the Gujarat Giants. Having previously coached teams like the Sydney Thunder and the Melbourne Renegades, Klinger is no stranger to the rigors of T20 cricket.
In a statement regarding his appointment, Klinger expressed his excitement about working with the Giants and emphasized his eagerness to collaborate with cricketing legend Mithali Raj, who serves as the mentor and advisor for the team.
“The Gujarat Giants have a chance to do something special in the Season 2 of the Women’s Premier League. I am eagerly looking forward to working with cricketing legend in Mithali Raj, who has played a transformative role in women’s cricket in India. Together with the Adani Sportsline family, Mithali Raj, and the rest of the team, I hope to take the team to ultimate glory,” said Klinger in a statement.
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Optimism from Mithali Raj
Mithali, the former India Women’s captain and a pivotal figure in the Gujarat Giants setup, shared her optimism about Klinger’s appointment. She highlighted Klinger’s expertise with the bat and expressed confidence that his coaching style would bring out the best in the team.
“Working with Michael will help bring out the best in the Gujarat Giants players. His expertise with the bat is also well-known and will surely benefit some of the younger members of our team. We look forward to having Klinger in the dressing room. We are sure of attaining success with him as head coach,” said Mithali.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
