WPL 2023: Gujarat Giants took a big blow as their skipper Beth Mooney is set to miss the rest of the season of WPL due to a calf injury. Gujarat is currently placed in fourth position on WPL Table as they have lost two out of three matches played.
The Australian Cricketer was bought by Gujarat Giants for 2 Cr. at a base price of 40 lakhs. Mooney suffered a calf injury in the tournament opener, chasing a mammoth target of 208 against Mumbai Indians.
The wicketkeeper-batsman suffered an injury while taking a single in the first over where she found herself with an injured knee. Afterward, she was declared retired hurt and could not continue.
After missing the following two games, the 29-year-old player will head back home for recovery. In the Gujarat team, South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt who was unsold at the auction will take her place.
Read more: WPL 2023: “Star-Studded MI team Gives Me Freedom To Express Myself,” Says Hayley Matthews
WPL 2023: Beth Mooney ruled out for the whole season
Cricket Australia announced on Thursday that Beth Mooney, the Australian opener, will be absent for the rest of the Women’s Premier League due to a calf injury that will take up to six weeks to recover.
Mooney expressed her disappointment in a statement, stating, “I was eagerly anticipating the inaugural WPL season… but injuries are an inherent aspect of the sport, and I’m devastated to be sitting out the rest of the season.”
Regarding Gujarat, who have won one game and lost two, and are currently fourth in the five-team league, she added, “I will be closely monitoring the team’s progress from a distance and will be supporting them wholeheartedly every day.”
“Though I will be away from the field of play for the rest of the season, I am looking forward to coming back stronger, fitter and I will definitely be hungrier next season,” said Beth Mooney who was a top-scorer for Australia in the final of recently scheduled T20 world cup against South Africa.
On the other hand, Wolvaardt arrives after a successful T20 World Cup campaign in South Africa, where she scored half-centuries against England and Australia in the semifinal and final, respectively.
With a total of 230 runs, she finished the tournament as the top run-scorer. Despite being listed at a base price of INR 30 lakh in the WPL 2023 auction in February, she went unsold.
