The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is no less than a grand movement. Since its inception, it has unearthed incredible opportunities for girls who dream to make it big in a game that has been handsomely dominated by men. Gone are the days when sporadic media attention prevailed in women’s cricket as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took a groundbreaking step to unveil the WPL in 2023.
The Women’s T20 Challenge reincarnated as a beast WPL of 5 teams – 3 of which were IPL franchises too. Several Indian superstars have had the honor of leading their franchises in an action-packed atmosphere. With tactical supremacy and a personalized flair for captaincy, each leader has left an imprint that makes them and their team special in different facets of the game.
1. Harmanpreet Kaur- Mumbai Indians
The captain of the Indian women’s team, Harmanpreet Kaur, made history by carrying forward the Mumbai Indians franchise’s legacy, securing the inaugural championship in near-perfect fashion. The 35-year-old has amassed 591 runs in 18 matches, maintaining an impressive strike rate of 140.71. Her tally of runs includes five half-centuries, achieved at an average of 45.46.
The Indian stalwart was at her absolute best against the Gujarat Giants, where she narrowly missed the opportunity to score the first-ever WPL century by 5 runs. Her assertive leadership style, combined with her powerful stroke play, makes her a delight for fans but a serious threat to the opposition. Kaur enjoys a healthy win percentage with 12 wins out of the 18 games in which she has captained the army in Blue-and-Gold, leading them to glory in the inaugural edition.
2. Smriti Mandhana – Royal Challengers Bengaluru
The elegant southpaw, Smriti Mandhana leads the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the WPL. In 19 matches, she has scored 458 runs at an average of 24.10, with the highest score of 80 against the UP Warriorz. The league has undoubtedly helped emerging talents to discover their hidden spark, but it has even been a significant learning experience for veteran players. With immense reputation and fan following comes criticism, which is justified, as top players are expected to deliver after securing big contracts.
Mandhana initially struggled to adapt to the T20 format, making the WPL her first and last resort. In the 2023 edition, she was visibly weighed down by the pressure of her hefty price tag. However, sport has a beautiful point to prove every time. Mandhana bounced back brilliantly, leading her team to glory as captain in the 2024 season. Bringing her captaincy records in frame, Mandhana has won 9 games out of 19 in which he has worn the armband.
3. Deepti Sharma – UP Warriorz
The season of 2025 marks a new era for the UP Warriorz as they appointed star-Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma as the captain of the franchise, replacing an injured Alyssa Healy.
Since the beginning of this league, she has been an influential member of the Warriorz squad, delivering as a batter and bowler. In 17 games, she has demonstrated exceptional all-around capabilities, registering 385 runs in 16 innings and taking 19 wickets. The season of 2024 was massive with 295 runs scored in 8 innings with a fine strike rate of 136.57 and an even greater average of 98.33.
4. Sneh Rana – Gujarat Giants
Veteran all-rounder Sneh Rana led Gujarat Giants for 7 matches in the Women’s Premier League’s inaugural 2023 season, bagging two victories while facing five heavy losses.
She has appeared in 12 matches, scoring just 47 runs and taking six wickets. She has been roped in as a replacement for Shreyanka Patil for the 2025 season. Whether it is batting in a high-pressure scenario or bowling economical spells, Rana will be on a mission to bounce back in a grand style.
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