New Zealand pacer Lea Tahuhu has been announced as the replacement for Australia’s left-arm fast bowler Lauren Cheatle by the Gujarat Giants in anticipation of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) commencing on February 23. Tahuhu, aged 33, was bought by Gujarat for Rs 30 lakhs.
“Gujarat Giants (GG) named Lea Tahuhu as a replacement for Lauren Cheatle for the upcoming edition of the TATA Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024, starting February 23, 2024,” WPL said in a statement.
Tahuhu boasts an impressive record, having represented New Zealand in 80 T20Is and 93 ODIs, with 78 and 109 wickets respectively across both formats. Unfortunately, Cheatle, aged 25, had to withdraw from the WPL due to a medical procedure to remove skin cancer from her neck. She was acquired for Rs 30 lakhs in the auction.
The Giants concluded at the bottom of the table, suffering defeats in six out of eight matches in the inaugural edition of the WPL. The Giants will kick off their WPL campaign against Mumbai Indians led by Harmanpreet Kaur on February 25 in Bengaluru.
Ahead of the 2024 edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), Michael Klinger steps in as the new head coach of the Gujarat Giants, taking over from Rachael Haynes. Joining mentors Mithali Raj and bowling coach Nooshin Al Khadeer, Klinger brings experience from his recent coaching stint with the Sydney Thunder, who clinched a playoff spot in the 2023 WPL.
With each new season, the Gujarat Giants, like all WPL teams, undergo strategic planning, player recruitment, and coaching staff adjustments to enhance their chances of success in the league. The team aims to represent the state of Gujarat with pride and compete fiercely against other franchises in the pursuit of WPL glory.
