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Australia batting maestro expressed immense pride upon her appointment as captain of UP Warriorz for the Women’s Premier League 2026 season, calling it a ‘real honour’ to lead the revamped side. The franchise made the announcement on January 4, 2026, signaling a bold leadership shift ahead of the tournament’s fourth edition starting later this month. Lanning steps into the role with a glittering resume, having guided Delhi Capitals to three straight WPL finals before her INR 1.9 crore move to Warriorz at the mega auction.
UP Warriorz names Meg Lanning their new captain for WPL 2026
Warriorz handed the captaincy to Lanning, succeeding Deepti Sharma, who steered the team during the 2025 season amid Alyssa Healy‘s injury absence. Healy, the original skipper for 2023 and 2024, missed the entire 2025 campaign due to a foot stress injury and subsequent knee issues, paving the way for Deepti’s interim leadership that yielded just three wins from eight matches, landing fifth. Both Healy, who went unsold and Deepti, re-signed for INR 3.2 crore via Right to Match, were released pre-auction as Warriorz rebuilt under head coach Abhishek Nayar.
Nayar praised Lanning’s poise, stating she offers a rare combination of experience, clarity, and calmness ideal for high-stakes games, backed by her 952 runs in 27 WPL outings, third on the all-time list.
“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 was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
A seven-time World Cup winner with Australia, including one ODI title and four T20 crowns as captain, Lanning’s tactical acumen shone in leading the Delhi side to consistent finals. The franchise eyes redemption after playoff glory in 2023 (third place, eliminator loss to Mumbai Indians), fourth in 2024, and a dismal 2025 bottom finish.
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Lanning’s thoughts on taking charge of UP Warriorz ahead of WPL 2026
As per Cricbuzz, Lanning highlighted the squad’s blend of global stars and Indian talent, vowing collective effort to chase the elusive WPL title.
“This talented group… I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead. We’ll work hard together and give ourselves every opportunity to lift the trophy,” Lanning shared, noting the league’s rising standards in its fourth year.
Key buys like England‘s Sophie Ecclestone (INR 85 lakh RTM) and Australia’s (INR 1.2 crore) bolster a core featuring retained Shweta Sehrawat, aiming for better cohesion after past inconsistencies.
Under Lanning’s steady hand, Warriorz stand poised to overcome their history of near-misses and end the title drought. Capri Sports’ franchise heralds this as a fresh chapter, with Lanning’s proven coolness under fire from Australia’s dominant era setting the stage for WPL 2026 success. Cricket fans are eagerly awaiting her influence from the dugout at Lucknow’s Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium.
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This article was first published at , a Cricket Times company.
