The Delhi team named Australia’s multiple World Cup winner Meg Lanning as captain and Jemimah Rodrigues as vice-captain ahead of the inaugural Women’s T20 League 2023 on Thursday. Lanning recently led Australia to their third consecutive Women’s 20-20 World Cup title. She was also the first cricketer to captain the team in 100 T20 internationals.
Delhi signed Meg Lanning for only Rs 1.1 crore, making her one of the best auction purchases. In addition to being a run machine, she has been an inspiring captain for Australia, who she led to a Women’s 20-20 World Cup victory in Cape Town. In international white-ball cricket, she has over 8,000 runs with 17 centuries.
Lanning will captain a team that includes Rodrigues, the franchise’s most expensive acquisition at 2.2 crores, and Shafali Verma, who can quickly demolish any bowling attack. South African Marizanne Kapp, a 1.5 crore purchase, multiple tournament winner, and one of the game’s best all-rounders, is also in the squad.
Both young Englishwoman Alice Capsey and seasoned Australian Laura Harris are intriguing candidates. Jasia Akhter, also from Jammu and Kashmir, is a force to be reckoned with. All of these batters, however, are right-handed. Taniya Bhatia is a talented Indian wicketkeeper, but she needs to improve her strike rate.
In the meantime, Twitter was divided over Delhi’s choice to name Lanning their captain. While some said she would guide the team to a title in the inaugural season itself, others believed Shafali, U-19 20-20 World Cup-winning captain, was stolen of a great opportunity. On the other hand, some users also pointed out that three of the five captains are Australian. They questioned if it was Australia’s T20 league and not India’s.
Delhi’s squad for the inaugural edition of the Women’s T20 League
Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Marizanne Kapp, Meg Lanning, Alice Capsey, Shikha Pandey, Jess Jonassen, Laura Harris, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Taniya Bhatia, Minnu Mani, Poonam Yadav, Sneha Deepthi, Titas Sadhu, Tara Norris, Jasia Akhter and Aparna Mondal
Here is how Twitter reacted
At this point hand them the trophy
— Uttkarsh (@KarshCFC) March 2, 2023
Feel like Australia league ??
— Karnataka Thalapathy Fan's Club (@AbhishekCH9) March 2, 2023
RCB & mi goated franchise
They have Indian captains— VIRAT TILL DEATH (@ViratTilldeath) March 2, 2023
Australia ki Dalaal bc…
Hopefully RCB vs MI final in #WPL
— ?????? Dubey ?? (@sdSankalp26) March 2, 2023
Shafali robbed ?
— VIRAT TILL DEATH (@ViratTilldeath) March 2, 2023
India ki league hi h na ye ?
— Aakash verma ?? (@Aakashv74401874) March 2, 2023
@kimMaWA2022 shafali bench captain ?
— Mangalam Srinu? (@MangSrinu) March 2, 2023
Congratulations delhi capital on winning WIPL
— Shubham (@playz_shubh) March 2, 2023
Obviously she will be the Captain of DC. She is 5 times T20 world champion Captain
— abhii ? (@abhii_777) March 2, 2023
This is indian league or Australian league..?
3 Australian captain— Devil?? (@princek8769) March 2, 2023
