Ex-Australian captain Meg Lanning is no stranger to laurels and praise. Termed as one of the greatest captains the game has ever seen, Lanning is known for her sublime touch and tactical skills. However, the Delhi skipper initially found it hard to return to the rhythm her fans were accustomed to seeing her bat with. After two early dismissals in Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, Lanning returned to form in the match against UP Warriorz, scoring a crucial 69 (49) to lead her team to victory.
When asked about their captain, her teammates were full of praise. “We all know she’s a very good leader, she thinks about the game a lot, she’s always up for the fight,” said South African Marizanne Kapp, highlighting her captain’s tactical skills.
“What makes Meg Lanning special is that she has all the shots, whether it is along the ground or aerial, and she also has a great mindset,” said opening batter Shafali Verma as she spoke about the diversity of shots that Lanning often displays during any batting inning.
Lanning’s calm nature as a captain is also widely appreciated. “She’s so calm, composed, and plays to her strengths,” said bowler Jess Jonassen, while Annabel Sutherland highlighted her winning mindset, “I think anytime she’s in a situation, she can win the game.”
Last night marked Lanning’s 7th WPL fifty, the highest for any player in the tournament. “Last night, her and I were in the nets, where she was simply working on hitting the ball again as opposed to guiding it or timing it, and she was able to execute that tonight,” said Jonassen, shedding light on the hard work the Australian put into achieving those seven fifties.
When asked about her innings, Lanning quipped with a laugh, “Oh dear, I don’t know, I just like to enjoy myself and have some fun. I would love to hit more sixes, but I’m not capable; Shafali does that for us. I’ve got to think a little bit more and get it into the gap a little bit more. It’s something I have worked on throughout my career—getting that placement right—and it seemed to work tonight,” she said, expressing her focused approach toward technique rather than power hitting.
Sent in to bat second, the Capitals played yet another thriller, chasing down the score with one ball to spare. However, the team would be happy as their captain, along with other senior players, seemed to find their rhythm. The “MegaStar” now moves to Bengaluru with her team for the next leg of the WPL.
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