ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 22: Meg Lanning of Australia looks on after the Women's Twenty20 International match between the Australia Southern Stars and the New Zealand White Ferns at Adelaide Oval on February 22, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images)
With the novelty of the WPL just around the corner, the Delhi Capitals announced at their launch event that they will be led by Australian captain and legend Meg Lanning through the course of its journey to claim the first-ever WPL trophy.
It was also added by the Capitals CEO, Dhiraj Malhotra that Indian star Jemimah Rodrigues will be her deputy.
Lanning remains one of the most successful women cricketers of all time, winning seven world cups (two ODI and five T20 world cups), leading her country in five of those. Outbidding the Mumbai Indians in a bidding war, the Capitals secured an experienced top-order batswoman with an incredible average of 36.61 for an absolute bargain, paying only AU$ 192,000.
The 30-year-old is not just regarded as one of the best of her generation but as one of the greatest to ever play the game. Lanning boasts over 3400 runs in the shortest format of the game with her highest score being 133*.
Lanning said at the launch event, "It's a very proud moment for me, firstly to be involved with Delhi and then to lead them. It's about enjoying yourself, getting the best out of yourself,"
"WPL is a massive moment for the sport, it's the logical next step and makes a lot of sense.
"Cricket in India is people's lives and the fact that WPL is up and running, and to be involved in something like this, is amazing. It's only going to grow in the coming years."
Lanning's leadership in the subcontinent will be put to the test as her Capitals take on Royal Challenegers Bangalore and will face off against fellow Aussies Megan Schutt and Ellyse Perry, on Sunday, March 5th in Mumbai.