Orla Prendergast has become the first Ireland women's player to be signed in the Women's Premier League after Gujarat Giants bought her at the recent player auction, Cricket Ireland announced on 3 November 2026. The 24-year-old allrounder is currently playing for Brisbane Heat in the Women's Big Bash League.
What Was Announced
Cricket Ireland said Prendergast was delighted when she learned of the deal. She made her international debut for Ireland in 2019 and was named in the Team of the Tournament at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in June. The WPL will be her third franchise tournament, and she has also had several stints in English domestic cricket.
The WPL is a professional women's T20 league in India, run by the BCCI, with five city-based franchises. The first edition was held in 2023.
"It's really cool to be the first current Irish woman to get picked up in the WPL," Prendergast said from Brisbane. "It looks like an incredible tournament. I've watched it for the last few years since it started and it looks like a real spectacle for women's cricket, played in some amazing stadiums with some really big crowds."
She added that Gujarat Giants "have an unbelievable team with some incredible other overseas" players, and that she hoped to learn a lot from them.
Prendergast said franchise cricket had done a lot for her game. "I've had the opportunity to play with some of the best players around the world," she said, adding that working under world-class coaches was another positive.
What It Means
Prendergast will be part of the Gujarat Giants squad for the fifth edition of the WPL, which runs from 14 January to 7 February 2027. Cricket Ireland said her rise is helping to shine a light on Irish women's cricket.
Source: Cricket Ireland release.