At UPW, Meg will take over the captaincy reins from India\u2019s off-spin bowling all-rounder Deepti Sharma, who led the franchise in the 2025 season in the absence of previous regular captain and Meg\u2019s former Australia team-mate, wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt is a real honour to be named captain of the UP Warriorz. As the WPL enters its fourth season, it\u2019s been incredible to see how the league has evolved, the quality of cricket, the competitiveness and the emergence of exciting new talent continue to raise the standard each year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThis is a talented group with a strong mix of international experience and Indian players, and I\u2019m really looking forward to the challenge ahead. We\u2019ll work hard together and give ourselves every opportunity to lift the trophy,\u201d said Meg in a franchise statement on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Meg, 33, is widely regarded as one of the most successful captains in women\u2019s cricket history, having guided Australia to five World Cup titles across both white-ball formats and Commonwealth Games gold medal during her tenure as the side\u2019s skipper. She joined UPW for Rs 1.9 crore at last year\u2019s mega auction in New Delhi after DC didn\u2019t retain her.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cMeg brings a rare combination of experience, clarity, and calmness that sets her apart as a leader. Her understanding of the game, ability to manage high-pressure moments, and connect with players makes her the ideal captain for this group. We\u2019re confident she will play a key role in shaping the team\u2019s approach this season,\u201d said Abhishek Nayar, UPW head coach.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In WPL, Meg led her previous team Delhi Capitals (DC) to the final in all three seasons, but finished as runners-up in 2023, 2024 and 2025 respectively. Meg, though, won the Orange Cap in 2023 WPL while sharing a formidable partnership with India opener Shafali Verma at the top.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cMeg brings a rare combination of experience, clarity, and calmness that sets her apart as a leader. Her understanding of the game, ability to manage high-pressure moments, and connect with players makes her the ideal captain for this group. We\u2019re confident she will play a key role in shaping the team\u2019s approach this season,\u201d said Abhishek Nayar, UPW head coach.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In her WPL career so far, she has played 27 matches and scored 952 runs at a strike rate of 127.10, including nine half-centuries. UPW, who are yet to win the WPL, will open their 2026 campaign against Gujarat Giants (GG) at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on January 10.<\/p>\r\n\r\n