New Delhi, Dec. 10 (LatestNewsX) – Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra thinks that naming Jemimah Rodrigues as the captain of Delhi Capitals for the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 could become a compelling subplot.
After Meg Lanning was signed by UP Warriorz in last month’s mega auction, Jemimah is already considered a top candidate to take the helm for DC in 2026, especially since owner Parth Jindal stressed that the franchise would be led by an Indian player. During the time Meg captained DC to the WPL finals on three occasions, Jemimah served as vice‑captain.
“Between Marizanne Kapp and Annabel Sutherland, you already have eight quality overs. We’ve spoken about Nandini Sharma; she can be the third bowling option. DC have two excellent spinners in Sneh Rana and Shree Charani, and Chinelle Henry adds strong fast‑bowling support,” Chopra noted.
“With their overseas players, they can easily get ten overs, if not twelve. If Nandini Sharma plays, she gives them even more pace‑bowling depth. Their spin attack is already impressive.”
“But the most interesting aspect is how Jemimah Rodrigues captains this side. We’ve seen her flourish as a player and as a strong team personality, but this is her first time leading a successful franchise. It’s a big elevation and will be fascinating to watch,” he added on JioStar.
Former India wicket‑keeper‑batter and selector Saba Karim believes that, with the new additions DC has made, the club should push past the cutoff if they make it into the final slated for Feb. 5 at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara.
“For Delhi Capitals, the auction has never been the problem; it’s about how they finish the tournament. Despite having match‑winners in the line‑up, for some inexplicable reason, they haven’t been able to cross the line in key knockout moments. Can they do it this time? They had a purse of 5.7 crore and worked very intelligently,” Karim said.
“Chinelle Henry at 1.30 crore is a smart buy. Laura Wolvaardt at the top will add stability. They’ve addressed their spin options with Shree Charani and Sneh Rana, and Rana can contribute runs down the order.”
“They clearly want players who can finish games for them, which is why someone like Sneh Rana at No. 8 or 9 becomes important. So, while finishing has been an issue for DC, they have done some sharp work at the auction table,” he concluded.
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