Gujarat Giants' Ashleigh Gardner Expresses Frustration After Loss to RCB

In a recent match, Gujarat Giants faced a tough defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with captain Ashleigh Gardner expressing her frustration over missed opportunities. Despite her efforts, including a half-century, the team struggled to secure crucial moments, leading to their third consecutive loss. As the playoff race heats up, Gardner reflects on the need for improvement in their upcoming matches. This article delves into her thoughts on the match and the team's performance.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 20, 2026, 15:55 IST

Gardner's Frustration After Defeat

Following a disappointing 61-run defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Vadodara, Gujarat Giants (GG) captain Ashleigh Gardner expressed her frustration over the team's inability to capitalize on crucial moments. She admitted to feeling angry throughout her innings, where she struggled to connect effectively with the ball.

RCB continued their impressive streak in the Women's Premier League (WPL), marking their fifth consecutive victory and securing a playoff spot. In contrast, GG faced a significant setback, suffering their third consecutive loss after an initial win, which placed them in fourth position on the points table. With Mumbai Indians (MI) and UP Warriorz (UPW) sharing the same win-loss record, the playoff race remains competitive.

Gardner Reflects on Her Performance

In the post-match presentation, Gardner, who scored a half-century, remarked, "It's quite frustrating. We are not winning the small moments. We need to secure victories in our last three matches, but it's overall disappointing. Our dismissals indicate we were not playing with a straight bat, which is essential. We need to focus on playing straight to maximize our chances, especially when the ball stays low."

She also highlighted her success in dismissing RCB captain Smriti Mandhana, noting their favorable match-up. Reflecting on her innings, Gardner stated, "I felt quite angry out there. I was frustrated, either hitting good shots directly to fielders or missing the ball entirely. In hindsight, I realized I was trying to hit the ball too hard."

Match Overview

In the match, GG chose to bowl first against RCB. Gautami Naik played a pivotal role, scoring 73 runs off 55 balls, supported by Smriti Mandhana (26 runs off 23 balls) and Richa Ghosh (27 runs off 20 balls), leading RCB to a total of 178/6 in 20 overs. Kashvee Gautam (2/38) and Gardner (2/43) were the standout bowlers for GG.

While defending a target of 179 runs, RCB quickly reduced GG to 48/5. Gardner managed to score a resilient 54 runs off 43 balls, including five fours and a six, but GG ultimately fell short, finishing at 117/8. Sayali Sathghare (3/21), Nadine de Klerk (2/17), and Lauren Bell (1/23) delivered exceptional bowling performances, with Gautami Naik earning the 'Player of the Match' title.