Delhi Capitals to appoint Jemimah Rodrigues as new captain ahead of WPL 2026

India's Women's ODI World Cup-winner Jemimah Rodrigues is poised to be named Delhi Capitals' new captain ahead of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026. Although the 25-year-old has yet to captain Delhi Capitals, the departure of Meg Lanning to the UP Warriorz has paved the way for her to step into the role. Her long-standing tenure as the team's vice-captain and her deep connection with the franchise have made her the natural successor in this leadership transition.

Jemimah Rodrigues to be named DC captain

While South African captain Laura Wolvaardt was considered a strong candidate due to her recent success in leading her national team to the 2025 World Cup final, the Capitals' management has opted for a different direction. Franchise owner Parth Jindal explicitly stated that the team’s priority was to appoint an Indian player as captain, effectively positioning Rodrigues as the clear frontrunner for the position.

ALSO READ: Rohit Sharma breaks silence on his ODI future, says 'Mere ko abhi...'

Rodrigues, who previously served as the team’s vice-captain, was one of only five core players retained for the new two-year cycle. Her promotion to captaincy comes on the heels of her heroics in the 2025 World Cup semifinal, where she played a match-winning role to knock out Australia.

Rodrigues has long been the face of DC's long-term vision. Notably, she was the very first player the franchise ever bid for during the inaugural 2023 auction and was the first name on their retention list this year. By handing her the reins, the Capitals have solidified her position as the cornerstone of their identity.

The franchise’s retention strategy also highlighted a balanced core of domestic and international talent. Alongside Rodrigues, Delhi kept Shafali Verma, Australian all-rounder Annabel Sutherland, and South African veteran Marizanne Kapp—all retained at a price of INR 2.2 crore each. Rounding out the core is the promising uncapped talent Niki Prasad, the U-19 World Cup-winning captain, who was retained for INR 60 lakh.

ALSO READ: India's all-rounder announces retirement from all forms of cricket ahead of IPL 2026

During the auction, DC attempted to re-acquire their former leader, Meg Lanning, but were ultimately out-bid by the UP Warriorz, who secured her for INR 1.9 crore. Because Delhi did not have a Right to Match (RTM) card available, they were unable to block the move. This development made Jemimah Rodrigues' promotion to the captaincy a natural and expected progression for the franchise.

Rodrigues’ appointment is further bolstered by her sensational recent form on the world stage. She was a primary architect of India’s maiden ODI World Cup title triumph, highlighted by a magnificent, unbeaten 127 during a historic 340-run chase against Australia. That performance propelled India into the final, where they ultimately defeated South Africa to claim the title.

Delhi Capitals WPL 2025 squad:

Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Niki Prasad, Laura Wolvaardt (Rs. 1.10 crore), Chinelle Henry (Rs. 1.30 crore), Shree Charani (Rs. 1.30 crore), Sneh Rana (Rs. 0.50 crore), Lizelle Lee (Rs. 0.30 crore), Deeya Yadav (Rs. 0.10 crore), Taniyaa Bhatia (Rs. 0.30 crore), Mamatha Madiwala (Rs. 0.10 crore), Nandni Sharma (Rs. 0.20 crore), Lucy Hamilton (Rs. 0.10 crore), Minnu Mani (Rs. 0.40 crore)