New Delhi, Jan 8 (NationPress) Former Indian captain Anjum Chopra is confident that Jemimah Rodrigues will uncover ‘a different facet of herself’ as she takes the helm of Delhi Capitals (DC) in the forthcoming season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), which kicks off in Navi Mumbai this Friday.

Previously, Jemimah served as the vice-captain under Australia’s celebrated captain Meg Lanning, during which DC secured the runner-up position in three consecutive WPL seasons - 2023, 2024, and 2025. With Meg now captaining UP Warriorz (UPW), Jemimah is stepping into the leadership role for the first time.

“There will be expectations from the franchise, but for me, it’s essential that when a player is entrusted with a role, they begin to see themselves in a new light. She has captained Mumbai and has experience, but leading a franchise team is an entirely different challenge. This will allow her to explore another aspect of her identity, not just as a batter or fielder, but also as a captain,” Anjum shared with IANS in an exclusive interview on the eve of the tournament's start.

“Captaincy extends beyond the field; it involves what goes on off the field as well. You gain insights into how you handle different situations, what you could improve upon, and how you strategize as a batter and fielder to stay ahead of the competition, sometimes winning or losing battles along the way.”

“I anticipate significant growth for Jemimah Rodrigues as a cricketer, especially as she’ll be managing seasoned players like Marizanne Kapp, along with teammates like Shafali Verma and the rapidly emerging Niki Prasad. This responsibility will be valuable, but it’s how she navigates this journey that truly matters,” she added.

Despite DC possessing considerable batting strength and solidifying their bowling lineup, Anjum warns that they are not assured a straightforward path to the trophy, noting the heightened competitiveness of this season.

“I wouldn’t hastily predict any team reaching the finals. It promises to be a fiercely contested tournament as we observed in previous seasons with a noticeable three-way contest throughout.”

“Except for the initial few games, it became clear that if teams fail to synchronize, the tournament progresses swiftly since each team plays only twice against one another. Encounters in the eliminator or finals will be critical. It’s not like the longer IPL format; if teams don’t elevate their game, it could be problematic,” she explained.

“For instance, GG stepped up last season to reach the eliminator, while UP Warriorz managed a similar feat in their first season. DC has consistently reached the finals before the last game was played, which is encouraging. However, this season, I believe no team can assume they will reach the finals without a tough contest,” she noted.

With the absence of veteran bowler Shikha Pandey and Annabel Sutherland stepping back for personal reasons, DC’s fast bowling lineup lacks the experience of past seasons. However, Anjum highlighted that the presence of seasoned players will aid in managing this area.

“Lucy Hamilton has been performing admirably in Australia, and this marks her first visit to India. Additionally, having a left-arm seamer adds variety. The challenge for DC lies in figuring out how to utilize Lizelle Lee as a wicketkeeper, as Chinelle Henry and Marizanne Kapp are essential for the starting lineup.”

“They need to balance their fast bowlers, especially in the absence of Shikha Pandey. While that experience is lacking, there’s a healthy mix with Sneh Rana joining the spin-bowling department alongside N Sree Charani.

“Yet, with limited slots available, they must find the right balance between batting and all-rounders. Deciding the perfect eleven for Delhi Capitals is crucial. Remember, there’s a new leader for the team as well. I’m confident they’ve done their homework, and now it’s about executing their strategy on the field,” she concluded.

Anjum wrapped up by expressing her optimism for Charani and Kashvee Gautam from Gujarat Giants, particularly keeping an eye on young Deeya Yadav from Haryana to potentially make an impact if given the opportunity to play for DC.

“While Kashvee Gautam isn’t uncapped, she has played for India and is returning from injury. I’ll be keenly observing her performance, especially considering the T20 World Cup and other cricket events on the horizon. Charani is also a capped player, and it will be fascinating to see how she performs after such a significant achievement (winning the ODI World Cup) and how she manages that pressure. Deeya Yadav has also been selected to play for Delhi Capitals.

“I’ve heard promising things about her. I’m eager to see if she gets the chance to play. I believe she has the potential to secure a spot in the playing eleven, but fitting in the four international players will be more challenging than integrating Indian players,” she concluded.