NEW DELHI: Delhi Capitals on Tuesday named India batter Jemimah Rodrigues as their captain ahead of the 2026 Women’s Premier League season.

The 25-year-old recently played a pivotal role in India’s ICC Women’s World Cup triumph, producing a magnificent unbeaten 127 during a record 339-run chase against Australia in the semi-final.

"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.

Rodrigues, who was Delhi’s first pick at the inaugural auction, has played 27 WPL matches and scored 507 runs at a strike rate of 139.67, while featuring in all three finals across the league’s three seasons.

She takes over from Meg Lanning as Delhi Capitals skipper after the franchise released the former Australia captain ahead of last month’s auction.

"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.

Rodrigues has represented India in 113 T20Is, scoring 2,444 runs including 14 half-centuries at an average of 30.93. She has also featured in 59 ODIs, accumulating 1,749 runs with three centuries and eight half-centuries.

Delhi Capitals will begin their WPL 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians on January 10 in Navi Mumbai.