New-ball bowler is someone Gujarat Giants were looking for, and they got it in Kashvee Gautam: Abhinav Mukund

Gujarat Giants bought the seam-bowling all-rounder Kashvee Gautam for Rs 2 crore at the WPL Season 2 auction in December and will be hoping that she excels for the team that finished fifth in the opening edition of the tournament in 2023. JioCinema and Sports18 WPL experts Abhinav Mukund and Saba Karim spoke about what Gautam’s inclusion means to the Giants and how the team looks ahead of the tournament. Excerpts:

Abhinav Mukund on Kashvee Gautam’s inclusion: Maybe, she wasn’t as quick last year with the ball, but she’s been exceptional with the new ball this year. A new-ball bowler is someone Gujarat Giants were looking for, and that’s what they got. All their overseas players are really good. They’ve got Beth Mooney, they have Ashleigh Gardner, they’ve also got Laura Wolvaardt, and added Kathryn Bryce. The experience of Dayalan Hemalatha and Sneh Rana will definitely come into handy because I feel the young Indian players they picked, don’t have too much experience.

Saba Karim on Kashvee Gautam and Phoebe Litchfield: Both are youngsters and both will focus on containing the top-order. I feel this team looks a bit top-order heavy. I feel there’s a slight lack of balance in the team. But maybe during the camps you will be able to see that balance. They have selected Kathryn Bryce who is a pace bowler. I feel they were looking to strengthen their pace attack.

Mithali Raj (GG mentor) on Gautam: Kashvee Gautam is a youngster and it’s not that we are looking only at this season. We are looking two seasons ahead. The players we select, we look at them for two seasons. So even if she gives us lukewarm performances, it’s an investment for the forthcoming seasons. She’s someone in the reckoning for the Indian team, someone who bowls, bats and is a very good fielder. That adds a lot to her skill.