The Delhi Capitals, owned by the JSW GMR Cricket Pvt. Ltd, are a professional cricket team participating in the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Based in the capital city of India, Delhi started the Player Auction - held in Mumbai on February 13 - on a slow note; but eventually, were the first team to complete their quota of 18 players.
This team is a fair mix of match-winners and up-and-coming talents and will be one to watch out for in the inaugural edition of the world’s latest women’s T20 extravaganza.
Let’s take a look at the top recruits in each position.
Batters
Shafali Verma: The women's U-19 World Cup-winning captain is one of Delhi Capitals’ biggest signings, and her numbers with the bat tell you why. The 19-year-old has tallied 1,264 T20I runs at a strike rate of 134.46, leading her to be one of the most destructive batters in the women's game. Roped in for a fee of INR 2 crores, Shafali will be the face of Delhi’s batting in the WPL.
Jemimah Rodrigues: Mumbai-born Jemimah Rodrigues was one of the outright top players expected to fetch a big-money move. Why? She is one of India’s leading T20I run-getters (1,628 runs) and most recently hit a match-winning 53 against Pakistan in the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup. With the experience of playing in overseas T20 leagues, Delhi fans can rest assured that Jemimah can pull off some fireworks whenever she takes the field in Mumbai.
Meg Lanning: Words fall short to describe the legacy of Meg Lanning. The 30-year-old has led Australia to success in all ICC tournaments (four T20I World Cups and two ODI World Cups) and is the second-highest run-getter in the 20-overs format (3,297 runs at a strike rate of 116.58. The ‘Megastar’ is a leading contender to be the first-ever skipper of our Delhi Capitals team in the Women’s Premier League.
All-rounder
Marizanne Kapp: In Kapp, Delhi Capitals have earned a player with the winning formula in franchise cricket. With 1,140 runs and 70 wickets, Marizanne Kapp is one of the top women all-rounders who undoubtedly will be a rock-solid figure in the Capitals squad. The South African all-rounder is a two-time Women's Hundred champion and won the 2021 Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) title.
Jess Jonassen: Australia’s Jonassen comes off more as a bowling all-rounder, and she will add more depth to the bowling. With 89 wickets in 98 T20Is, the 30-year-old’s versatility from taking the new ball to bowling at the death will be a highlight for Delhi in the WPL.
Bowlers
Poonam Yadav: Poonam Yadav is India’s leading T20I wicket-taker (98 wickets) and brings a huge bag of experience to the table. Although she was last seen in action in late 2022, the 31-year-old is expected to spin her way through opposition batters with her deadly googlies.
Radha Yadav: The 22-year-old is one of India’s T20 bowling specialists, and Delhi fended off competition to acquire her services. With 65 wickets in 63 T20I matches, Radha’s knowledge of the Mumbai pitches makes her a bowler to watch out for in the Women’s Premier League.
Delhi Capitals full squad
Jemimah Rodrigues, Meg Lanning, Shafali Verma, Radha Yadav, Shikha Pandey, Marizanne Kapp, Titas Sadhu, Alice Capsey, Tara Norris, Laura Harris, Jasia Akhter, Minnu Mani, Taniyaa Bhatia, Poonam Yadav, Jess Jonassen, Sneha Deepthi, Arundhati Reddy, Aparna Mondal
When does the Women’s Premier League start?
The Women’s Premier League will get underway on March 4, 2023. A total of 22 matches will be played at two venues - Brabourne Stadium (CCI) and DY Patil Stadium. The final of the inaugural WPL will take place on March 26.
