- January 10, 2026
MI vs DC, WPL 2026 Live Score: New Delhi Capitals skipper Jemimah Rodrigues wins toss, opts to bowl – The Times of India
Jemimah Rodrigues, one of Indian cricket’s brightest stars, has been handed the leadership role after the franchise decided to move on from Australian great Meg Lanning, who captained the side for the first three seasons.
For Jemimah, the responsibility comes with both excitement and reflection, especially given Lanning’s deep imprint on the team’s culture.
“I met Meg Lanning, and it felt weird to see her wearing the yellow jersey of the UP Warriorz. I have to say the impact Meg had on our franchise, the Delhi Capitals, and the standards and culture she set was huge. I learned so much from her. I even picked her brain about captaincy,” said Jemimah, acknowledging the influence of her predecessor.
The 24-year-old, who starred in India’s ICC Women’s ODI World Cup triumph with a memorable century against Australia in the semi-finals, believes leadership brings out the best in her. Drawing confidence from her domestic captaincy experience, she is ready to guide a side that has reached the WPL final in every edition so far.
“This new role as captain is exciting. I am also a little nervous because it is new. But I have led my domestic side for a while. I love leading because that extra responsibility brings out my best. My message to the Delhi Capitals is the same. We have played amazing cricket and have an amazing support staff. We just keep working hard and doing the right things, and I know things will fall into place. That is our energy,” Jemimah added.
Delhi Capitals open their campaign with a high-voltage clash against defending champions Mumbai Indians at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai — a reminder of past finals heartbreaks and a chance to set the tone for 2026.
Head coach Jonathan Batty expressed optimism about the squad’s makeup and preparation following a productive pre-season camp in Goa.
“It’s really nice to have a lot of familiar faces back in the squad from the last few years, and at the same time, it’s been great to bring in some fresh faces who add a new dynamic to the team,” Batty said.
He added, “It’s been a fantastic preparation period… everything feels really positive, and we’re raring to go.”
With balance, belief and a new leader, Delhi Capitals will once again chase the one prize that has narrowly eluded them — the WPL title.
