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Michael Klinger has been appointed as the new head coach for the Gujarat Giants and the former Australia batter will take the baton from Rachael Haynes for the upcoming 2024 season of the Women's Premier League (WPL). Joining the Giants' coaching roster alongside mentor Mithali Raj and bowling coach Nooshin Al Khadeer, Klinger brings with him a wealth of experience from his recent coaching stint with Sydney Thunder in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), where he led the team to the playoffs in the 2023 edition.
Expressing enthusiasm for his new role, Klinger is eager to collaborate with cricket icon Mithali Raj, celebrated for her extraordinary contributions to Indian cricket. His appointment is set to inject fresh insights and strategies into the Gujarat Giants, aiming to revitalise the team after their last-place finish in the previous season, with just two victories from eight games.
"The Gujarat Giants have a chance to do something special in Season two of the Women’s Premier League. I’m eagerly looking forward to working with cricketing legend Mithali Raj, who has played a transformative role in women’s cricket in India. I hope to take the team to ultimate glory," Klinger said.
Who is Michael Klinger, the new coach of Gujarat Giants?
Klinger's background as a player is notable, having participated in 206 T20 matches between 2006 and 2019. Throughout his T20 career, he amassed 5960 runs, boasting an average of 34.45 and a strike rate of 123.08, including eight centuries and 33 half-centuries. His brief international career saw him represent Australia in three T20 Internationals, where he scored 143 runs at an impressive average of 47.66, with a highest score of 62.
In addition to his coaching credentials, Klinger has a history of nurturing young talent, as demonstrated by his guidance of Phoebe Litchfield at Sydney Thunder. Litchfield, a promising young batter, was a significant acquisition for the Giants, secured for INR 1 crore during the auction. Klinger's expertise in developing young cricketers will be invaluable for the Giants as they look to build a competitive squad for the forthcoming season.
The Gujarat Giants are set to embark on their new campaign to overcome last season's challenges and make a strong impression in the league. They will face off against the defending champions, Mumbai Indians, in their opening match of the season on February 25 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. With Klinger at the helm, the Giants are hopeful for a turnaround and aim to leverage their refreshed coaching lineup and talent pool to climb the ranks in the WPL 2024.
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