Indian players have significantly improved as a result of the WPL: Meg Lanning, captain of DC

Captain of the Delhi Capitals Meg Lanning thinks the Women’s Premier League (WPL) will only “get bigger every year” and feels it has already had a great influence on women’s cricket in India. On the eve of the WPL 2024 opening in Bengaluru, which rematches the final from the previous year, between her team and the reigning champion Mumbai Indians, Lanning made these comments.

Lanning, who played in other franchise-based T20 leagues throughout the globe and guided the Australian women’s team to five World Cup victories in both white-ball forms, thinks the WPL will keep expanding in the years to come.

“From what I’ve seen thus far, the native Indian players have made some pretty big progress. Ahead of Friday’s WPL opener between the Delhi and Mumbai Indians, Lanning said in Bengaluru, “I think the WPL has played a big role in that among other factors.”

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After building a strong combination of foreign and Indian players, Lanning said of their tournament debut against the reigning Mumbai club, “the team balance has been fairly good.”

“We’ve done a fantastic job preparing. This year, there have been camps and a little more time for our group to come together. In order to provide those positioned in the center a better idea of what their potential roles entail, we have also included some match simulation. Everyone is incredibly excited to be able to start the tournament tomorrow (Friday) against Mumbai, which will be a tremendous test. It’s been a pretty seamless transition into the team, Lanning said.

The 31-year-old feels that Annabel Sutherland, an Australian all-rounder, has been added at the right moment in this regard.

“In the last 12 months, she has really developed both on and off the field to become a vital member of whatever squad she plays for. But she can play a variety of positions for us depending on the game, and she can bring some serious power to the bat. However, I believe that her bowling and her ability to perform well under pressure—which may be challenging when batters are hitting hard—have been the greatest improvements in her game. She now really understands what functions well and what doesn’t.” Prior to the WPL, the one thing worrying the Capitals is veteran Marizanne Kapp’s health. She has been recuperating from a sickness she caught during the last series against Australia.