Finishing second is a huge improvement: Klinger

Head coach Michael Klinger felt Gujarat Giants' WPL 2026 season showed clear progress, even if it ended with a sense of unfinished business. Finishing outright second on the points table was a step forward and reflected a league phase where the Giants consistently held their nerve in tight situations. At the same time, it highlighted the areas where they still need to be better when the stakes are highest.

They completed a clean sweep of UP Warriorz, finally snapped a long winless run against Mumbai Indians, and edged Delhi Capitals twice in last-over finishes, with Sophie Devine's composure under pressure proving decisive. The margins were consistently fine and the belief evident, even if defeats to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in both meetings denied them an even stronger league-stage finish. Yet, as Klinger reflected, the season again ended in disappointment, with the Giants falling short in successive Eliminators in 2025 and 2026.

"Yeah, certainly, finishing outright second this year is a huge improvement. Probably the two finals [Eliminators] we played, both last year and this year, we just didn't play at our best. We spoke about it today in our team meeting - that when we play close to our best, we're a chance to beat any team in this competition - and we just weren't quite there today, in our batting and our bowling," he said after Giants' loss to DC in the Eliminator.

However, the broader assessment remained constructive. "We've learned a lot about our squad this year. Whether we won the final or not, or the championship or not, we're pretty clear on the areas we need to improve next year. We've got plenty of time - about 10 months now - to watch more cricket from both local and overseas players, tinker a little bit, and hopefully come back bigger and stronger next year.

"To qualify two years in a row, there are always teams who would much prefer to be where we are than already gone home. So we're satisfied with that, but at the same time we're aiming for bigger things. It didn't happen this year, but we'll keep giving ourselves a chance by qualifying, and hopefully next year we'll play stronger cricket in the bigger games," he said.

Klinger also spoke with optimism about the Indian talent in the squad, viewing this season as a foundation rather than a ceiling. He felt the next phase was about self-belief and ambition, particularly for younger players.

"I think it's about players taking the next step. Anushka [Sharma] had a good season for her first year. She got a lot of good starts, which for a young player is fantastic. The next step for her is realising how good she is, and that she can be a 300-plus run WPL player going forward. She's a fantastic player and person, and she's probably a big chance to play for India before next year's WPL. I hope she does, because that international experience will help her for us next year as well.

"I thought Bharti [Fulmali] started the season really well and played some fantastic innings. Potentially the lower bounce here (in Vadodara) didn't quite suit her, so she couldn't get going. It's more about belief - that they don't just have to contribute, but can dominate, like some of the other Indian batters in the competition. If they come in with that attitude next year, they'll be fine. Obviously we'll have Yastika [Bhatia] next year, touch wood, if she's fit and healthy, which will add another quality Indian player," said Klinger.

From a bowling perspective, Klinger spoke about effort, balance, and areas for improvement. He pointed to the tight wins over DC as evidence of a fighting spirit the group values deeply. He praised the fast bowlers' impact when conditions suited them, but emphasised the need for clearer plans once the swing disappeared, a key step in becoming consistent T20 operators.

"The two wins against Delhi showed our fighting spirit - even when we were up against it in the last six balls. We talk about that a lot. In our team room, we have a big sign that says 'fight'. We'll certainly speak to all the players - maybe not tonight with emotions running high, but over time. Everyone's going back to domestic cricket, and there are areas everyone can work on, whether it's our quicks or our spinners.

"I think our fast bowlers were really good when the ball was swinging. The next step for them as T20 bowlers is what their go-to option is when the ball stops swinging. That's something they can work on. Happy Kumari is a fantastic young bowler. I heard she didn't get picked for an upcoming domestic team, which I find amazing, because there aren't many with her pace, line and length. I hope she keeps getting opportunities, because she's got something special and she'll be back with us next year, and we can really unleash her," Klinger said.

As for the spinners, who didn't play as big a role, Klinger said: "Our spinners didn't get as many overs this year - TK [Tanuja Kanwer] and Raj [Rajeshwari Gayakwad] - but that was more about our team make-up. We had a lot of all-rounders: Ash [Gardner], Georgia [Wareham], Sophie Devine. We didn't have Georgia last year. With three overseas all-rounders bowling, it wasn't a reflection on the spinners, just how we balanced our overs."

Click here to read article