The Delhi Capitals (DC) will aim to break their final jinx in the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) season, having been runners-up in both previous editions. With former Australian captain, Meg Lanning, leading the team, the squad is ready to roar once again.
Before the mini-auction in Bengaluru, DC had four spots to fill, which they did by acquiring three young Indian talents and one foreign player. With their retained world-class, experienced internationals and a strong Indian core, this could finally be the year for Delhi to lift the prestigious trophy for the first time.
Retained squad: Alice Capsey, Arundhati Reddy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Jess Jonassen, Marizanne Kapp, Meg Lanning (c), Minnu Mani, Radha Yadav, Shafali Verma, Shikha Pandey, Sneha Deepthi, Taniya Bhatia, Titas Sadhu, Annabel Sutherland.
Shafali is expected to open again with Lanning, just like in the last two seasons. She has scored over 500 runs in T20Is this year but is currently not in the Indian squad, leaving many fans surprised.
Jemimah will aim to stay consistent, as she has been performing well in different leagues and on the international stage. Capsey is known for her power-hitting and her ability to bowl a couple of useful overs when needed. Sutherland and Jonassen are two foreign all-round options, along with another legend of the game, Marizanne Kapp.
This season offers a great opportunity for Titas, Delhi’s young prospect, to bowl alongside Kapp, Arundhati, and veteran Indian pacer Shikha Pandey. Shikha recently had an exceptional Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). Arundhati was India’s highest wicket-taker in the Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai and bowled a dream spell in an ODI against Australia. However, she was surprisingly dropped from the ongoing home T20I and ODI series against West Indies, leaving fans confused.
In the spin department, Radha Yadav will be a key player with her excellent fielding skills. Jonassen is also available, but her inclusion might be limited due to the foreigners’ quota. As a result, Minnu Mani could be a handy option for Lanning.
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New recruitments: Nandini Kashyap (Rs. 10 lakh), N Charani (Rs. 55 lakh), Sarah Bryce (Rs. 10 lakh), Niki Prasad (Rs. 10 lakh)
Nandini Kashyap might be the steal of the auction. Her recent domestic performances have shown the X-factor in her batting, and getting her at the base price of ₹10 lakh shocked many fans. In the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, this wicketkeeper-opener from Uttarakhand was the third-highest run-scorer, amassing 247 runs in seven innings. She carried this momentum into the Senior Women’s Challenger Trophy, where she was the highest run-scorer.
Representing India E, she smashed 332 runs in just five innings. The most striking feature of her T20 career so far has been her impressive strike-rate. In 12 T20 matches, she has batted at a strike-rate of 131.89, scoring four fifties and one century with an outstanding average of 57.90. Even in the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy, she stood out by scoring 95 off 122 balls against Hyderabad. With Nandini, Delhi has secured an aggressive backup opener and a reliable wicketkeeping option for Taniya Bhatia.
N Charani, a 20-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner from Andhra Pradesh, is an exciting prospect. She has already shown her all-round abilities in T20s. With the bat, she has a strike-rate of 131.65 in 11 innings, while with the ball, she has taken nine wickets in 17 innings at an impressive economy of 5.31. This season will be a great opportunity for her to learn from seasoned players like Jonassen and Yadav.
Bryce, a 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Scotland, brings valuable experience with 58 T20I matches under her belt. However, given the team’s current balance, she might find it challenging to secure a spot in the playing XI.
Prasad, the current captain of India Under-19s, is leading the team in the ongoing Asia Cup in Malaysia. India are unbeaten so far and have secured the top spot in the ‘Super Four.’ Prasad has proven her mettle under pressure, especially in the recent Women’s U19 Triangular Series against South Africa. She is another promising young talent that Delhi has brought in with an eye on the future.
Overall, with all bases covered, DC stands out as one of the top contenders this season. Fans are eagerly hoping that 2025 might be the year their favourite players finally get to lift the coveted trophy and bring glory to the franchise
Overall Rating: 9/10
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