Former Indian cricketer Anjum Chopra expressed disappointment over the choice of foreign players as captains in WPL 2023. As many as three of the five teams in the marquee league named non-Indian captains, all of whom are Australians. WPL’s most expensive franchise Gujarat Giants named Beth Mooney as their captain, whereas Alyssa Healy Captain of UP Warriorz. On the other hand, Delhi Capitals decided named Meg Lanning as Captian z who recently led Australia to their sixth T20 World Cup victory.
Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore are the only teams that have named Indian players in leadership roles. While Mumbai went with the experience of the India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, RCB appointed star opener Smriti Mandhana as their Captain.
“I didn’t like that most of the teams have opted for foreign players as captains because it’s an Indian league and will be played in Indian conditions, so Indian players should have been captains if they have capabilities,” she said in a virtual interaction.
“I thought Deepti Sharma should have been made the captain as she led in the last Women’s T20 Challenge,” she said.
Deepti Sharma, however, was named Healy’s deputy by UP Warriorz.
“I completely agree with their (Australian players) experience (at the international stage), and so Jemimah Rodrigues can’t become a captain ahead of Meg Lanning in the same team (Delhi Capitals). If I look at the big picture, the Indian players don’t have much captaincy potential like Australian players,” she said.
