Women Premier League Cricket

UP Warriorz Appoint Meg Lanning as Captain for WPL 2026 Season

by iGK

Modified: January 5, 2026 10:26 AM

In a major leadership overhaul, the UP Warriorz have named former Australia captain Meg Lanning as their new skipper for the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 season. Lanning takes over the reins from Deepti Sharma, who led the side last year in the absence of the injured Alyssa Healy.

Lanning, one of the most successful captains in women’s cricket history, was acquired by the Warriorz for INR 1.9 crore at the recent mega auction after being released by the Delhi Capitals. Under her leadership, Delhi had reached the WPL final in all three previous seasons. With 952 runs in 27 WPL matches, she is also the tournament’s third-highest run-scorer.

The Blueprint of Success. The Icon of Leadership. Captain 𝐌𝐄𝐆 👑💛#UPWarriorz #UttarDega #TATAWPL #MegLanning pic.twitter.com/hJho7auTc4

— UP Warriorz (@UPWarriorz) January 4, 2026

Warriorz head coach Abhishek Nayar highlighted Lanning’s proven leadership qualities as the key reason behind the decision. “Meg brings a rare combination of experience, clarity, and calmness that sets her apart as a leader. Her understanding of the game, ability to manage high-pressure moments, and connect with players makes her the ideal captain for this group,” Nayar said.

Expressing her honour at the appointment, Lanning stated, “This is a talented group with a strong mix of international experience and Indian players, and I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead. We’ll work hard together and give ourselves every opportunity to lift the trophy.”

The franchise had previously been led by Alyssa Healy in 2023 and 2024 before Deepti Sharma stepped in during Healy’s injury layoff in 2025. Both Healy and Deepti were released ahead of the 2026 auction; while Deepti was bought back for INR 3.2 crore, Healy went unsold.

The Warriorz will be hoping Lanning’s championship pedigree can revive their fortunes after a difficult 2025 season, where they finished fifth with only three wins.