“One prediction is that Delhi Capitals is going to win it this time. We’re going to be third time lucky,” said a smiling Arundhati Reddy, a day before her team’s Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 opener against Mumbai Indians. DC skipper Meg Lanning would hope her pacer’s words come true come March 15.
In the last two seasons, the Capitals have fallen short in the summit clash: first against Mumbai Indians and then Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The side comes into the tournament’s third edition with a well-balanced squad, not fiddled with too much, and hoping to go all the way this time.
“Obviously, we’ve had two good seasons without finishing it in the way we would have liked to. The key for us is to maintain what we’ve been doing well. I think we have been playing some really good cricket and doing a lot of things right. It’s just about making a few changes here and there which will hopefully allow us to take the next step,” Lanning told reporters in the lead-up to the season.
DC has gamechangers in both its batting and bowling department.
Apart from leading the side, Lanning is also the current highest run-scorer in the WPL with 676 runs. And giving her company at the top of the side’s batting order is India international Shafali Verma.
Shafali, despite not being in India’s squad during the recently held bilateral series against West Indies and Ireland, has been in good form in the domestic circuit. She bagged the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award at the Senior Women’s ODI Challenger Trophy in which she amassed 414 runs in five matches in December.
However, DC’s trump card lies in its bountiful pace battery. With names like Shikha Pandey, Marizanne Kapp, Arundhati, Titas Sadhu, and Annabel Sutherland, the side won’t be lacking in speed with the ball. Even if the pitch demands spinners – like the black soil track at the Kotambi Stadium where the first leg of the WPL 2025 is being held – the likes of Radha Yadav and Jess Jonassen can spin a web around the batters.
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With an intact core from the last season, the Capitals, at least on paper, don’t have a weakness standing out like a sore thumb.
DC also has the option of fielding an extra overseas player after it roped in Scotland’s Sarah Bryce. This also makes the wicketkeeper spot a good selection headache for coach Jonathan Batty. “Taniya (Bhatia) has probably been the best wicketkeeper of the tournament in the last two years. I’ve been really impressed with her glove work. Our job as a team is to keep growing. It’s open at the moment. Selection is always in the players’ hands. It’s good that there’s competition for Taniya for that spot.”
DC has evidently invested in youth, having bought the latest U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup stars – Nandini Kashyap and Niki Prasad. However, it remains to be seen when the two youngsters will be given a look-in.
Delhi Capitals Squad
Retained players: Alice Capsey, Arundhati Reddy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Jess Jonassen, Marizanne Kapp, Meg Lanning (c), Minnu Mani, Radha Yadav, Shafali Verma, Shikha Pandey, Sneha Deepthi, Taniyaa Bhatia, Titas Sadhu, Annabel Sutherland
Auction buys: Nandini Kashyap, N Charani, Sarah Bryce, Niki Prasad