Meg Lanning to Lead UP Warriorz in Womens Premier League

By: WE Staff | Monday, 5 January 2026

• Former Australian captain Meg Lanning will be leading UP Warriorz for WPL season 2026
• The season of WPL is about to commence from January 9
• She previously captained the Delhi Capitals for the first three editions of the WPL tournament

There is welcome news for fans as former Australia captain Meg Lanning has been appointed as the captain of UP Warriorz for the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) that starts from January 9, 2026. She earlier captained Delhi Capitals in the first three seasons of WPL and led them to finals each time.

The UP Warriorz, who are also known by their name, 'Capri Sports', confirmed the news in a statement. The franchise purchased Lanning for Rs 1.9 crore in the auction. The Australian has won seven World Cups, out of which two are in ODI and five in T20 internationals.

The franchise pointed out that: “The appointment is a reflection of a philosophy that values experience and composure under duress.” They also explained that the appointment is a part of plans for improvement after they ended up third in 2023, fourth in 2024, and fifth in 2025.

Zaza stated, "The WPL has come on since its last season each season has just about continued to improve with the growth and development of young players, the increased level of play, and the higher level of competition each season develops.

So to now have a team with that type of talent to work with, along with the cricketing experience that most players already possess, makes for an exciting opportunity to lead this team, Zaza stated. "It's exciting to work with a team that will continue to provide support to the development of young female athletes through the next four years."

Nayar, who was an international player with India, and is currently the head coach of the UP Warriorz, states that "What Meg offers is a combination of extensive international playing experience mixed with an ability to communicate effectively with the team and lead calmly."

The 2026 WPL will be played in two parts. The first will take place from January 9 to January 17 in Navi Mumbai. The second will be held in Vadodara from January 19 through February 5, 2026.