Delhi Capitals Women Eye WPL Glory After Two Heartbreaking Final Losses

The Delhi Capitals Women’s team has been outstanding across two seasons of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Despite their consistency and dominance, they have yet to claim the coveted trophy.

With back-to-back top-of-the-table finishes, their journey has been nothing short of remarkable. However, their inability to secure the title in two consecutive finals remains a major setback.

In WPL 2023, Delhi Capitals lost the final to Mumbai Indians. A year later, history repeated itself when they suffered another defeat, this time against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2024 final.

As the team prepares for the 2025 season, their skipper, Meg Lanning, remains hopeful and believes minor adjustments will help them finally clinch the trophy.

Meg Lanning’s Perspective: Small Changes, Big Impact

Meg Lanning, the captain of Delhi Capitals, is confident in her team’s ability to break the title jinx. She believes that the key to success lies in maintaining their existing strengths while making slight improvements.

“We’ve had two good seasons without obviously being able to finish it off the way we would have liked in winning the title. I guess the key for us is maintaining what we’ve been doing well.

We think we have been playing some really good cricket and doing a lot of things right. We’re just evolving and making a few little changes here and there that we think will make a big difference and hopefully allow us to take that next step. It’s not [a] big shift from us,” Lanning told ESPNcricinfo.

Strengthening the Squad for a Winning Formula

Delhi Capitals have retained a strong core while bringing in new players to add depth to their squad. Lanning emphasized that the existing players have also shown significant improvement, which puts the team in a great position ahead of WPL 2025.

“We’ve added some new players, and also the players who have been here previously have also improved and gotten better as well. We feel like we’re [at] a really good spot.

It’s not [about] changing too much. We’ve been doing a lot right. It’s just some small things here and there to take us to the next step,” she added.

Lanning’s Form: A Boost for Delhi Capitals

Lanning is set to enter WPL 2025 as the tournament’s highest-ever run-getter, having amassed 676 runs across two seasons. Her stellar form in the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) further boosts her confidence.

Averaging 51.14 in eight games, she has been in prime form, which will be crucial for Delhi Capitals in their quest for the title.

“Playing matches is important; there’s nothing quite like being out in the middle and being in a good rhythm with that. I feel like those games are great for me in that respect.

I feel like I’m in a good spot with my game. I always enjoy playing and batting over here in India. I’ve had some success in the past. So far, the couple [of] days I’ve been here, it’s been nice to just get used to the conditions again, and just be really clear on what my plan is and how I want to go about it,” she said.

Passing on Experience to Young Players

Since retiring from international cricket in 2023, Lanning has continued playing in franchise leagues and domestic tournaments.

She finds satisfaction in mentoring young players and sharing her knowledge about handling pressure at this level.

“I think having experienced international cricket for so long, I’ve picked up different things along the way on what works and what doesn’t.

And I guess now I’ve got the opportunity to work with – particularly back home, but also in tournaments like this – younger players, and try and pass on some of the knowledge that I’ve picked up not just on the field but [also] off the field – in terms of how you can manage yourself with the pressures that come with playing cricket at this level.”

The Lanning-Shafali Partnership: A Game-Changer

One of Delhi Capitals’ biggest assets over the past two seasons has been the formidable opening partnership between Lanning and Shafali Verma.

While Lanning ensures stability at one end, Shafali’s aggressive batting style complements her perfectly.

Together, they have broken multiple records, including three 100-plus partnerships and the highest-ever stand of 162 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in WPL 2023.

Shafali’s return to domestic cricket after being dropped from the Indian team has been phenomenal.

She emerged as the top run-getter in both the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy and the One Day Challenger Trophy. Lanning expressed her admiration for Shafali’s explosive style of play.

“I love batting with Shafali. She often puts on a very entertaining show, and I’ve got the best seat in the house watching from the other end most of the time.

In the practice game, she did a very similar thing a few days ago. She looks like she’s in really good touch, and enjoying herself and having fun too, which I think is really important. So for me, just watching her play with freedom, express herself…when she does that, that plays a really important role for our team.

“I always enjoy batting with her; we get on really well. Hopefully, this season can continue on through from where we have been the first two.”

Can Delhi Capitals Finally Secure the WPL Title?

With a solid squad, an in-form captain, and an effective opening partnership, Delhi Capitals are optimistic about turning their fortunes around in WPL 2025.

The team has come close twice, and this time, they aim to go one step further and claim their maiden WPL title.