Star India batter Jemimah Rodrigues was on Tuesday named captain of the Delhi Capitals for the 2026 Women’s Premier League.
The 25-year-old scored a brilliant 127 not out in a record chase of 339 against Australia in the semi-final of the ODI Women’s World Cup, which India won last month.
“It is an absolute honour to be named captain of the Delhi Capitals, and I am deeply grateful to the owners and the support staff for placing their faith in me to lead this team,” Rodrigues said in a release.
“It has truly been a dream year for me and my family, winning the World Cup and now being entrusted with this wonderful opportunity at a franchise that has held a very special place in my heart since the very first season of the WPL,” she added.
Delhi’s first choice in the first auction, Rodrigues has played in 27 WPL games and amassed 507 runs at a strike rate of 139.67. During the league’s three seasons, she has appeared in all three finals.
The Delhi Capitals dropped former Australian captain Meg Lanning prior to the auction last month, and Rodrigues takes her place as captain.
“I have learned so much over the last three years and have shared some of my best moments with the Delhi Capitals. We have a strong group, and I can’t wait to get going as we look ahead to what we hope will be a very successful season, and finally cross that line that has eluded us in the last three years,” she said.
In 113 Twenty20 Internationals, Rodrigues has scored 2,444 runs at an average of 30.93, including 14 half-centuries. In the 59 ODIs, that she has played for India, she has scored 1,749 runs, including three hundreds and eight half-centuries.
On January 10 at Navi Mumbai, the Delhi Capitals will play their first WPL 2026 game against the Mumbai Indians.
