As the third edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) gears up for an exhilarating season, all eyes are on the captains who will lead their teams with determination and strategy. Set to begin on February 14 at the newly built BCA Stadium in Baroda, the tournament promises thrilling action across four cities—Baroda, Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Mumbai. From seasoned campaigners to new faces in leadership roles, the WPL 2025 captains are set to leave their mark.
Smriti Mandhana – Leading RCB’s Title Defense
Smriti Mandhana’s leadership saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) rise from underachievers to champions in WPL 2024, ending the franchise’s 17-year-long wait for a trophy. After a disappointing inaugural season in 2023, where RCB managed just two wins from eight matches, they made a remarkable comeback in the second edition. Mandhana’s team finished third in the group stage with four wins from eight matches before storming through the Eliminator against Mumbai Indians and crushing Delhi Capitals in the final. Individually, she improved significantly, scoring 300 runs from 10 matches with a highest of 80, after managing only 149 runs from eight games in the previous season.
A pillar of Indian cricket, Mandhana has played 266 T20s, captaining in 41 of them, and is currently India’s vice-captain. With RCB eager to defend their crown, Mandhana will aim to start strong as they face Gujarat Giants in the tournament opener on February 14 in Vadodara.
Harmanpreet Kaur – Mumbai Indians’ Quest for Redemption
Harmanpreet Kaur’s Mumbai Indians (MI) created history by becoming the first-ever WPL champions in 2023. However, their title defense in 2024 ended in heartbreak when they were knocked out in the Eliminator by eventual champions RCB. MI had an impressive first season, winning six out of eight group-stage matches and dominating the playoffs. In WPL 2024, they secured five wins from eight games but fell short when it mattered the most.
Kaur has been a cornerstone of MI’s success, playing 17 matches and amassing 549 runs, including the best of 95*. A veteran of 293 T20s, she has captained in 149 of them, 123 of which were for India. As MI seeks to reclaim its past glory, Kaur’s experience and leadership will be vital. The team kicks off its WPL 2025 campaign against Delhi Capitals on February 15 in Vadodara.
Meg Lanning – The Architect of Delhi Capitals’ Consistency
Meg Lanning’s leadership has been instrumental in Delhi Capitals’ consistent performances in the WPL. Under her captaincy, the team topped the points table in both previous seasons with six wins from eight matches, but they fell short in the finals each time. A legendary figure in women’s cricket, Lanning has an illustrious record, having led Australia Women to four T20 World Cup titles (2014, 2018, 2020, and 2023), an ODI World Cup triumph in 2022, and a Commonwealth Games gold in 2022.
Her batting has been equally dominant, finishing as the leading run-scorer in WPL 2023 with 345 runs in nine matches and the second highest in WPL 2024 with 331 runs. With 3405 runs from 132 T20Is, she is Australia women’s highest run-scorer in the format. Across 263 T20s, she has scored 7549 runs, including the career-best of 133*. A natural leader, she has captained in 207 T20s, 100 of which were for Australia. Lanning’s tactical brilliance will once again be crucial for Delhi Capitals as they strive to break their final jinx.
Deepti Sharma – A New Era for UP Warriorz
For the first time in WPL history, UP Warriorz will be led by an Indian captain, with Deepti Sharma taking over the reins from Alyssa Healy. An integral part of the franchise since its inception, Deepti made history in WPL 2024 by becoming the first Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in the tournament, against Delhi Capitals. Her all-round brilliance saw her clinch the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
In her 17 matches for UP Warriorz, Deepti has accumulated 385 runs from 16 innings, including three half-centuries, with the highest of 88*. With the ball, she has taken 19 wickets. The 27-year-old has also been a key performer for India, playing 124 T20Is and scoring 1086 runs, with two fifties and a top score of 64. She is India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is, with 138 wickets to her name. Notably, she was the first Indian—across both men’s and women’s cricket—to reach 100 T20I wickets. As the Bengal captain in domestic cricket, she brings valuable leadership experience to the role. UP Warriorz start their campaign against Gujarat Giants on February 16 in Vadodara.
Ashleigh Gardner – Gujarat Giants’ Fresh Start
Gujarat Giants have struggled in the WPL, finishing at the bottom of the table in both editions, winning only two games in each season. In an effort to change their fortunes, the team has appointed Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner as their new captain, replacing Beth Mooney. Gardner is no stranger to success, having played a pivotal role in Australia’s 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal win and being named Player of the Tournament in the 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa.
Over the last two WPL seasons, Gardner has contributed 324 runs and 17 wickets for Gujarat. With an overall record of 4518 runs and 207 wickets in 254 T20s, she is a proven match-winner. However, her captaincy experience is limited to just one T20 match, where she led the Sydney Sixers against Melbourne Stars in WBBL 2023. Despite her team’s narrow two-run loss, Gardner showcased her all-round prowess with a stunning 72 off 44 balls and figures of 2/23. She will be eager to turn Gujarat Giants’ fortunes around when they open their campaign against RCB on February 14 in Vadodara.
With a mix of experienced leaders and new captains eager to make their mark, WPL 2025 is shaping up to be a season of fierce competition. Whether it’s Mandhana’s quest to defend RCB’s title, Kaur’s bid for redemption with MI, Lanning’s pursuit of an elusive WPL trophy, Deepti’s fresh start for UP Warriorz, or Gardner’s challenge to revive Gujarat Giants, each captain has a point to prove. As the league unfolds, their leadership will be the key to their teams’ success in this electrifying edition of the Women’s Premier League.
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