WPL 2026: Meg Lanning appointed UP Warriorz captain

In a recent move, UP Warriorz chose senior cricketer Meg Lanning as captain for the 2026 Women’s Premier League season. Lanning will captain the WPL for the fourth consecutive season, although this time at a different time. She has led the Delhi Capitals to three WPL finals in as many seasons, but the team has failed to advance.

Meg Lanning will look to help Warriorz right now.

Lanning, who has previously won five T20 World Cups and a few of ODI World Cups as captain, has voiced her delight about taking over as leader of the Uttar Pradesh-based team for the forthcoming season. The seasoned combatant is also optimistic that the Warriorz will go all out to win their first championship in the lucrative event.

“This is a talented group with a strong mix of international experience and Indian players, and I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead. We’ll work hard together and give ourselves every opportunity to lift the trophy,” Lanning said via a media statement.

Meanwhile, Warriorz head coach Abhishek Nayar also opined his views on the onboarding of the former Australia batter as the skipper. The head coach believes that Lanning boasts a plethora of experience behind her back, and knows how to create a team environment through leading by example. He further said that Lanning becomes an ideal skipper for the qualities she has shown over the years.

“Meg brings a rare combination of experience, clarity, and calmness that sets her apart as a leader. Her understanding of the game, ability to manage high-pressure moments, and connect with players makes her the ideal captain for this group. We’re confident she will play a key role in shaping the team’s approach this season,” Nayar was quoted as saying.

The 2026 season of WPL will commence on Friday, January 9, but the UP Warriorz will be opening their campaign on Saturday by taking on the Gujarat Giants. Their next clash will be against the 2024 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The team still awaits its first finale entry and will look to change their fortunes by playing some quality cricket under Lanning.

UP Warriorz squad for WPL 2026: Shweta Sehrawat, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Meg Lanning (captain), Phoebe Litchfield (wicketkeeper), Kiran Navgire, Harleen Deol, Kranti Goud, Asha Sobhana, Deandra Dottin, Shikha Pandey, Shipra Giri, Simran Shaikh, Tara Norris, Chloe Tryon, Suman Meena, G Trisha, Pratika Rawal