Lanning, who has won five T20 World Cups and a couple of ODI World Cups as captain in the past, has expressed her excitement about joining the Uttar Pradesh-based franchise as leaders ahead of the upcoming season. The veteran campaigner is also confident that the Warriorz will leave no stone unturned to lift their first trophy in the cash-rich tournament.
“This is a talented group with a strong mix of international experience and Indian players, and I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead. We will work hard together and give ourselves every opportunity to lift the trophy,” Lanning said through a media statement.
Meanwhile, Warriorz head coach Abishek Nayar also gave his views on the appointment of the former Australian batsman as skipper. The head coach believes Lanning has an abundance of experience behind her back and knows how to create a team environment by leading by example. He further said that Lanning will be an ideal skipper because of the qualities she has shown over the years.
“Meg brings a rare combination of experience, clarity and composure that sets her apart as a leader. Her understanding of the game, ability to handle high-pressure moments and connecting with players make her the ideal captain for this group. We are confident she will play a key role in shaping the team’s approach this season,” said Nayar.
WPL’s 2026 season begins on Friday, January 9, but the UP Warriorz open their campaign on Saturday by taking on the Gujarat Giants. Their next match will be against the 2024 champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The team is still waiting for its first appearance in the finals and will look to change their fortunes by playing quality cricket under Lanning.
UP Warriorz roster for WPL 2026: Shweta Sehrawat, Deepti SharmaSophie 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
Get every cricket update! Follow us:
#WPL #Meg #Lanning #named #captain #Warriorz #CricTracker