As the Women’s Premier League (WPL) ignites its fourth edition from January 9 to February 5, 2026, kicking off at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai before shifting to Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, Delhi Capitals stride in as perennial finalists, hungry to shatter their heartbreaking runners-up curse after three straight seasons. Under the fresh leadership of Jemimah Rodrigues, the side that has topped the league table every year (12 points from 8 games in 2023 and 2024, 10 in 2025) boasts a retention masterstroke: Jemimah, Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland, and Marizanne Kapp at ₹2.20 crore each, plus India’s U-19 World Cup-winning skipper Niki Prasad for ₹50 lakhs, totaling ₹9.30 crore on a core blending Indian firepower and global nous.
The mega auction delivered fireworks with South African captain Laura Wolvaardt (₹1.10 crore) anchoring the top order, explosive keeper-batter Lizelle Lee (₹30 lakhs), all-rounder Chinelle Henry (₹1.30 crore), prodigious left-arm spinner N Sree Charani (₹1.30 crore) returning, Sneh Rana (₹50 lakhs) from India’s World Cup triumph, and Minnu Mani (₹40 lakhs) rejoining late. Heartbreak came in losing Meg Lanning (snapped up by UP Warriorz for ₹1.9 crore), but with Sutherland opting out (replaced by leg-spinner Alana King) and Wolvaardt adding serene stability, this squad pulses with balance. What emerges as the ultimate XI to finally lift the trophy?
Delhi Capitals Squad for WPL 2026:
Jemimah Rodrigues (C), Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Niki Prasad, Laura Wolvaardt, Deeya Yadav, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Lizelle Lee (wk), Mamatha Madiwala, Chinelle Henry, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Shree Charani, Lucy Hamilton, Nandani Sharma
Best Possible Playing XI for Delhi Capitals in WPL 2026:
1] Shafali Verma
The explosive 21-year-old opener Shafali Verma storms into WPL 2026 as Delhi Capitals’ batting fulcrum, primed to unleash her destruction at the top with a glamorous new partner: South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt, after Meg Lanning’s mega-auction exit to UP Warriorz on November 27, 2025, where she was swiftly named their new captain. Shafali, just behind her former partner Meg Lanning, as Delhi’s second-highest run-scorer with 865 runs in 27 innings at a blistering strike rate of 162.52 and average of 36.04 (boasting 6 half-centuries), now pairs her raw Indian aggression with Wolvaardt’s elegant composure for a dream duo that could redefine powerplay dominance and propel the Capitals to their elusive title.
2] Laura Wolvaardt
South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt, the 26-year-old linchpin of composure, slots into Delhi Capitals’ explosive opening alliance with Shafali Verma, bringing vital stability to the top-order after her mega-auction move from Gujarat Giants on November 27, 2025 (₹1.10 crore). A wildcard mid-season replacement for injured Beth Mooney in WPL 2023, she etched her mark as Gujarat’s fourth-highest scorer with 342 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 125.73 and average of 26.30, including 3 half-centuries, now amplifying her influence as a crucial leadership cog post-Meg Lanning’s exit, poised to anchor powerplays and steer Delhi’s title charge.
3] Jemimah Rodrigues
The 25-year-old dynamic top-order batter and linchpin Jemimah Rodrigues steps up as Delhi Capitals’ new skipper, inheriting the reins from Meg Lanning, who fetched ₹1.90 crore to join UP Warriorz, infusing fresh verve into the side for WPL 2026. Already the franchise’s third-highest run-scorer with 507 runs in 24 innings at a strike rate of 139.66 and average of 28.16 (including three half-centuries in 27 matches), Jemimah slots in at No. 3, where her elevated leadership mantle promises to unlock even greater batting heights and rally the Capitals toward silverware.
4] Minnu Mani
The 26-year-old promising all-rounder Minnu Mani, a Delhi Capitals stalwart since the inaugural 2023 edition, finally earns her breakout for WPL 2026 with an elevated No. 4 slot after sporadic chances: 15 runs in 6 innings with the bat, but a gritty 9 wickets in 13 innings (17 matches) at an average of 23 and economy of 7.13 with the ball. Her timing is impeccable, filling the void left by Radha Yadav’s mega-auction defection to RCB, positioning Minnu as a crucial spin spearhead who could ignite middle-order momentum and snag key breakthroughs to fuel the Capitals’ trophy quest.
It is likely to be a toss-up between her and Niki Prasad for the number 4 slot in the batting order for the upcoming season.
5] Marizanne Kapp
The experienced 36-year-old veteran all-rounder Marizanne Kapp remains Delhi Capitals’ clutch performer at No. 5, delivering match-defining fireworks with bat and ball since the 2023 inception, especially under pressure for the now-departed skipper Meg Lanning. Delhi’s fifth-highest run-scorer with 362 runs in 19 innings (24 matches) at a strike rate of 126.13 and average of 32.90, still chasing her maiden WPL fifty, she pairs it with third-ranked bowling menace: 28 wickets in 24 innings (24 matches) at an average of 19.57, economy of 5.89, including a five-wicket haul, setting her up for another season of game-seizing heroics.
6] Chinelle Henry
The 30-year-old explosive Caribbean all-rounder Chinelle Henry storms into Delhi Capitals’ engine room at No. 6, hot off her mega-auction transfer on November 27, 2025 (₹1.30 crore), primed to ignite innings and snag breakthroughs after a whirlwind 2025 stint as injured Alyssa Healy’s late replacement. Wasting no time, she blazed 163 runs in 7 innings (7 matches) at a ferocious strike rate of 196.38 and average of 27.16, including a half-century, while snaring 6 wickets at an economy of 8.29 across those 7 matches, cementing her as a vital momentum machine with bat or ball to turbocharge Delhi’s title tilt in the season ahead.
7] Sneh Rana
31-year-old experienced veteran all-rounder Sneh Rana, fresh off her crucial ball and bat contributions to India’s ODI World Cup triumph, anchors Delhi Capitals at No. 7 for WPL 2026 after her mega-auction move on November 27, 2025 (₹50 lakhs), building on stints with Gujarat Giants (2023 debut) and as Shreyanka Patil’s late replacement for RCB last season. Overall in WPL, she offers 74 runs in 10 innings (17 matches) at a strike rate of 134.54 and average of 9.25 with the bat, poised for handy lower-order cameos, plus 12 wickets in 16 innings at an average of 35.33 and economy of 8.80, positioning her as a key spin attack cog to groom prodigy N Sree Charani and bolster Delhi’s middle-overs mastery.
8] Alana King
The 30-year-old bowling all-rounder Alana King slots into Delhi Capitals’ No. 8 role for WPL 2026 as Annabel Sutherland’s replacement after her personal opt-out, arriving with spin guile from a brief UP Warriorz stint last season, where she played just 1 game. Despite a forgettable bowling outing that day, she delivered a handy unbeaten cameo of 19* (14 balls) at a strike rate of 135.71, signaling lower-order promise. King eyes a vital spin department role amid potential toss-up with Lucy Hamilton based on match conditions, ready to turn games in Delhi’s title pursuit.
9] N Sree Charani
21-year-old left-arm spinner N Sree Charani emerges as a main leader in Delhi Capitals’ spin attack for WPL 2026, alongside Sneh Rana and Alana King, building on her impressive outing in India’s maiden ODI World Cup triumph and strong showings since her international debut in the away series against England. Limited to just a couple of games for Delhi in the previous edition, she snared 4 wickets across a couple of innings at an average of 17.75 and economy of 8.87, now elevated to spearhead the spin trio with greater responsibility and game-changing potential in the middle overs.
10] Taniya Bhatia (wk)
The experienced 28-year-old batter Taniya Bhatia returns as Delhi Capitals’ specialist wicket-keeper batter for WPL 2026, re-acquired in the mega auction on November 27, 2025, after anchoring the franchise with reliable glovework since the inaugural 2023 edition across 18 matches. Despite modest returns of just 5 runs in 5 innings with the bat, her steady keeping has been a bedrock for the side. Slotted at No. 10, Taniya promises defensive solidity late in the order while enabling aggressive batting freedom higher up.
11] Nandani Sharma
The young 24-year-old pacer Nandani Sharma arrives as Delhi Capitals’ frontline Indian seamer for WPL 2026, snapped up in the mega auction on November 27, 2025, poised to fill the pace void in a squad leaning heavily on spin. Yet to make her WPL debut, but a consistent performer with the ball at the domestic level for Chandigarh, she also packs lower-order batting potential for handy runs. Nandani’s raw pace and accuracy could prove decisive in powerplays and death overs, injecting vital variety into Delhi’s attack. She could play a good complementary role alongside the South African stalwart Marizanne Kapp in the powerplay and at the death overs.
Delhi Capitals step into a new era under the skipper Jemimah Rodrigues as they kick start their campaign in the upcoming 4th edition of the WPL, against defending champions Mumbai Indians, led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, in the 2nd game of the first double-header day of the tournament on 10th January 2026, at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai from 7:30 PM IST.
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