WPL 2026 will consist of both retaining and appointing new captains across all five franchises.
Full List of WPL 2026 Team Captains
| TeamTeam | Captain | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | Harmanpreet Kaur | India |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | Smriti Mandhana | India |
| Gujarat Giants (GG) | Ashleigh Gardner | Australia |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | Jemimah Rodrigues | India |
| UP Warriorz (UPW) | Meg Lanning | Australia |
Has the WPL 2026 Captains List Been Officially Announced?
Yes. This list, which includes all five leadership announcements, closes months of leadership speculation. An onslaught of changes followed the auction shakes. Thus, these are now officially known.
Which Teams Changed Captains for WPL 2026?
A few franchises have made some big alterations at the top of the leadership structure. Delhi Capitals appointed Jemimah Rodrigues as their new captain after having replaced Meg Lanning. While UP Warriorz appointed Meg Lanning to captain the team after she joined, taking up the place of Deepti Sharma.
Major Captaincy Shake-Ups
- Delhi Capitals
Previous captain: Meg Lanning
Current captain: Jemimah Rodrigues
Delhi’s choice to part ways with one of the most fruitful captains in WPL history was quite surprising. The Australian player was let go despite taking the team to three consecutive finals. The appointment of Rodrigues seems a daring one, but the critics are not sure whether it was leadership planning or damage control after Lanning’s departure.
- UP Warriorz
Previous captain: Deepti Sharma
Current captain: Meg Lanning
UP Warriorz made the boldest move of the season. Meg Lanning was made captain almost immediately after joining the franchise. The woman who led them in tough times Deepti Sharma was silently ousted from the captaincy. The message was clear: overseas pedigree trumps internal continuity.
Teams That Retained Their Captains
- Mumbai Indians (MI) – Harmanpreet Kaur
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) – Smriti Mandhana
- Gujarat Giants (GG) – Ashleigh Gardner
Who is the Most Experienced Captain in WPL 2026?
Meg Lanning stands on top when it comes to experience this season.
Why Meg Lanning Leads on Experience:
- Former long-time captain of Australia.
- As captain, won multiple ICC tournaments.
- Three successive WPL finals with the Delhi Capitals team.
- Proficient leadership experience in international as well as franchise cricket.
While Harmanpreet Kaur brings deep experience within Indian cricket and the WPL, Lanning’s global leadership record places her at the top in terms of sheer captaincy pedigree.
Are There Any Major Players That Are Not Part of the List?
For personal reasons, RCB’s Ellyse Perry and DC’s Annabel Sutherland are no longer on the roster. Sayali Satghare has been brought in to take Perry’s place at RCB, which now leaves the team with just five foreign players, whereas Alana King has been signed by the DC team.
The auction did not attract any of Alyssa Healy, Chamari Athapaththu, and Heather Knight. Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, and Sophie Molineux on the other hand, did not even apply for registration.
Source – WPL T20