As the WPL is in it’s final stages and all the Captains have got the chance to show their leadership skills over a period of 8 Matches which is a lot to judge a leader so it is time to rank these leaders on the basis of how they led their teams. Some of them were highly experienced captains and some were first time leaders so it was interesting to watch all these women approach captaincy differently.
There is a lot of scope for improvement in some of these leaders and they will be back better than ever in the next season in 2024. However, let’s rank these leaders from 5 to 1 and look at each one of them.
5) Smriti Mandhana – Royal Challengers Bangalore
There is no doubt that the most disappointing leader in the entire WPL was Smriti Mandhana from the Royal Challengers Bangalore and this is being said because before the start of the tournament and after the auction almost everyone said that RCB will win this trophy because they have assembled the greatest team possible and some of the best players in the world are playing for the same team like Elysse Perry, Heather Knight, Sophie Devine, Megan Schutt and some of the best Indian players like Smriti Mandhana herself as well as Richa Ghosh and Renuka Singh Thakur. Royal Challengers Bangalore lost their first 5 matches and were only able to win 2 and Smriti Mandhana scored only 140 runs.
Check here Best Young Players in WPL 2023
4) Sneh Rana – Gujarat Giants
Although the Gujarat Giants finished last in the points table Sneh Rana still showed spark and she was not prepared to take on this role and Beth Monney was the original captain for the Gujarat Giants who got injured in the first match of the WPL. Sneh Rana stepped up and although she finished last , Gujarat Giants won 2 out of 7 matches that she led and the likes of Ashleigh Gardener, Laura Wolvaardt and Sophia Dunkley were great for her and next year with the return of Beth Mooney the Gujarat Giants will be top contenders.
Check here Best Players in WPL 2023
3) Harmanpreet Kaur – Mumbai Indians
Harmanpreet Kaur is at number 3 because she could not finish the job of taking her team directly to the final after winning the first 5 matches without being beaten. During the first 5 matches it looked like nobody was going to beat the Mumbai Indians and then the slips happened in the next 2 matches and they had to play the Eliminator. Harmanpreet Kaur has so far made 230 runs with a match still left and she can lead her team to the final and she has players like Nat Sciver Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Saika Ishaque and Amelia Kerr.
2) Alyssa Healy – UP Warriorz
Although the UP Warriorz are also playing the Eliminator Alyssa Healy is higher than Harmanpreet Kaur because she is a first time captain and she has done exceedingly well in her first time as captain. She led from the front and got 242 runs which is the 5th highest in the WPL. She has also got the best out of her teammates like Tahlia McGrath has made 294 runs and is second on the list of highest run getters as well as Grace Harris who has won 2 matches for them and Sophie Ecclestone who has taken 14 wickets and is on top. She can also take her team to the final.
1) Meg Lanning
There was never any doubt as to who was the best captain of the WPL. It is the one and only Meg Lanning who is the greatest captain in the history of cricket and she has led the Delhi Capitals team to the final of the WPL. She is the leading run getter In the WPL with 310 runs and her teammates like Marizanne Kapp, Shafali Verma have resounded so well. She has been the star of the WPL and all Indian fans are huge fans of her. She can win yet another title on Sunday.
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