The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 is right around the corner. The fourth season of the T20 league starts on January 9, 2026.
All five teams have pencilled in their strategies. And they have also locked in their leaders who will execute the plans to perfection.
So, here’s a look at the captains of all five teams in WPL 2026.
Delhi Capitals (DC)
Captain: Jemimah Rodrigues
Delhi Capitals have appointed a new leader at the top. A young Jemimah Rodrigues will become only the second player to captain DC in the WPL.
Rodrigues replaces Meg Lanning at the top. Lanning led DC for the last three seasons, taking them into the final each time. But she failed to lift the trophy.
That perhaps led to DC releasing Lanning and wanting a fresh perspective. Now Rodrigues has a big task cut out for herself to break DC’s final jinx in WPL 2026.
Gujarat Giants (GG)
Captain: Ashleigh Gardner
Gujarat Giants have persisted with Ashleigh Gardner for another season. And why not?
She now has significant captaincy experience, having led teams in the WPL, Women’s Hundred, and Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).
In fact, Gardner played a crucial role in GG making the playoffs last season. And this time around, she will look to lead them into the final and hopefully lift the title.
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Mumbai Indians (MI)
Captain: Harmanpreet Kaur
As expected, no surprises here. Harmanpreet Kaur will continue to lead Mumbai Indians. After all, she is a two-time WPL-winning captain.
MI have tasted massive success under Harmanpreet’s leadership. She has led them to two WPL triumphs – first in the inaugural season in 2023 and the most recent being last year.
So there was absolutely no doubt that MI would continue with her. Now, all MI will hope is that Harmanpreet will add another title to their cabinet. And, honestly, they look quite the favourites to lift the trophy once again.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Captain: Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana is all set to lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) once again. She has been their captain since 2023. And she even led them to their maiden WPL trophy in 2024.
Although the last season didn’t go as expected, Mandhana will aim for recovery. Plus, she is in great form with the bat of late, cracking one record after another, and will look to replicate it in WPL 2026.
Mandhana’s batting, along with her captaincy, will play a major role in how RCB’s campaign pans out.
UP Warriorz (UPW)
Captain: Meg Lanning
Meg Lanning will wear new threads in WPL 2026. She has moved to UP Warriorz after the franchise acquired her in the auction.
Lanning played and led the Capitals for the last three editions. Now she will have a go at the captaincy for UPW in WPL 2026.
Lanning replaces Deepti Sharma in the role. Deepti captained the Warriorz last season in the absence of Alyssa Healy.
With Lanning’s appointment, the Warriorz hope to turn things around. And Lanning will also look to lift the trophy after three close chances with DC.
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