Australia master of batting meg lanning expressed great pride in his appointment as captain of UP Warriors For women’s premier league 2026 Season, sayin’ itreal respect’ To lead the revamped side. The franchise made the announcement on January 4, 2026, signaling a bold leadership change ahead of the fourth edition of the tournament starting later this month. Lanning steps into role guided by a stellar resume Delhi Capitals He made it to three consecutive WPL finals before being bought by the Warriors for Rs 1.9 crore in the mega auction
UP Warriors appoint Meg Lanning as their new captain for WPL 2026
Warriors successfully handed over captaincy to Lanning Deepti SharmaWho led the team during the 2025 season Alyssa HealyAbsence of injury. Healy, the original captain for 2023 and 2024, missed the entire 2025 campaign due to a hamstring injury and subsequent knee problems, paving the way for the interim leadership of the Deepti, who managed just three wins from eight matches and finished fifth. Healy, who remained unsold, and Deepti, who was re-signed for Rs 3.2 crore through Right to Match, were both released in the pre-auction as the Warriors were rebuilt under a head coach. Abhishek Nair.
Nair praised Lanning’s poise, saying she offers A rare combination of experience, clarity and peace Ideal for high-risk games, his 952 runs in 27 WPL outings rank third in the all-time list.
“Meg brings a rare combination of experience, clarity and calm that sets her apart as a leader. Her understanding of the game, ability to manage high-pressure moments and ability to connect with players make her the ideal captain for this group.” Cricbuzz quoted Nair as saying.
A seven-time World Cup winner with Australia, including one ODI title and four T20 titles as captain, Lanning’s tactical acumen has led Delhi to consecutive finals. The franchise eyes a comeback in 2023 after playoff glory (third place, eliminator loss) Mumbai Indians), fourth in 2024, and a disappointing 2025 bottom place
Lanning’s thoughts on taking charge of UP Warriors ahead of WPL 2026
According to Cricbuzz, Lanning highlighted the team’s mix of global stars and Indian talent, and vowed a collective effort to chase the elusive WPL title.
,This talented group… I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead. We will work hard together and give every chance to lift the trophy” Lanning shared noting the rising standards of the league in his fourth year.
buys like key England‘S Sophie Ecclestone (INR 85 Lakh RTM) and Australia’s Phoebe Lichfield (INR 1.2 Crore) Maintains a key feature Shweta SehrawatAiming for better reconciliation after past discrepancies
Under Lanning’s steady hand, the Warriors are poised to overcome their history of near misses and end their title drought. The Capri Sports franchise has heralded this as a new chapter, with Lanning’s proven cool under the criticism of an era dominated by Australia setting the stage for WPL 2026 success. Cricket fans are eagerly waiting for Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee to make his impact from the dugout of Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
Also read: 3 reasons why Gujarat Giants will excel under Ashley Gardner in WPL 2026
This article was first published here WomenCricket.comA Cricket Times Company.