Meg L to Rely on Teammates Deepti Sharma & Sophie E in WPL 2026

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 6 January 2026

• Meg Lanning will captain the UP Warriorz in the latest season of WPL, starting from January 9
• She is going to depend upon the important players, including Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma and England spinner Sophie Ecclestone

Before the start of the Women's Premier League (WPL) season, scheduled for January 9, UP Warriorz Captain Meg Lanning said that she would target key players such as Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma and England spinner Sophie Ecclestone while also introducing her own captaincy style into the side.

Meg, who has won numerous World Cups as an Australian batter and captain, was elected as the captain of the franchise on Sunday. She, along with Coach Abhishek Nayar, conducted a media interaction in Navi Mumbai on Monday.

In an ESPNCricinfo conversation, Meg talked about her experience as Delhi Capitals’ (DC) captain. The experience, according to her, lasted for three years, teaching her many things, including how to become an effective captain.

When Meg was asked about her approach while switching teams, she said, "I'm trying to learn as much as I can about the side and understand individuals’ roles. I am trying to get to know everyone, understand their roles, and see where I can contribute, while also giving people the confidence to perform their roles.”

She also lauded Deepti, the 2025 Women’s World Cup-winning all-rounder and Player of the Tournament in both the 2025 WC and 2024 WPL, for her contributions and growth as a player.

The increase in talent and the abilities among women cricketers in the country meant that many players could now deliver consistently, and thus, players were being compelled to perform and develop their high-performance capabilities.

Meg, who clinched five ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and two ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup trophies (six in total as a captain), bid a farewell to the international game in 2023 at the tender age of 31.

The team who had finished the last season at the bottom of the table with only three wins in eight matches, UP Warriorz, is going to start their new season on January 10 against the Gujarat Giants.