Australian cricket legend Meg Lanning, currently leading the Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024, recently shared insights into her life after retiring from international cricket, the upcoming season, and her teammate Jemimah Rodrigues in an exclusive interview with JioCinema.
Lanning, who was the leading run-scorer in the inaugural season of the WPL 2023 with 345 runs in nine matches, expressed her excitement about returning to competitive cricket. She mentioned that while life post-retirement has been slower, she is eager to get back into the WPL. Lanning also revealed that she worked at a café for about eight weeks post-retirement, enjoying a different perspective and a slower pace of life.
Reflecting on Delhi Capitals’ performance last season, where they finished as runners-up, Lanning expressed disappointment at not clinching the title but praised the team’s overall performance. She emphasized the need to make more runs and acknowledged Mumbai Indians’ strong performance in the final.
Regarding the team’s preparations for Season 2 of the WPL, Lanning noted that the squad has improved and is enjoying their cricket. With a reasonably similar squad to last year, she expressed hope that they would perform well in the upcoming season.
Lanning also spoke highly of all-rounder Annabel Sutherland, who joined the team in hot form. She praised Sutherland’s maturity on and off the field, highlighting her as a valuable addition to the team.
When asked about playing in Bengaluru and Delhi, the tournament venues, Lanning mentioned relying on local knowledge and described the pitches as generally flat and good for batting.
“Everybody looks like they have improved and they are enjoying their cricket and are ready for the start of the season. We know each other a lot better than we did last year and we’ve got a reasonably similar squad as well. Hopefully, that’ll mean we’ll be able to play well,” Lanning said.
Delhi Capitals will play in front of their home fans for the first time this season, a prospect that Lanning and the team are excited about. She emphasized the importance of fan support and expressed her team’s eagerness to perform in front of their home crowd.
“We are really pumped to play in front of our home fans. We really felt the support last year playing in Mumbai, but playing in front of our fans is something the group is looking forward to,” Lanning remarked.
Lanning also shared some insights about Jemimah Rodrigues, describing her as talented, energetic, and someone who brings a lot of energy to the team. She mentioned Rodrigues’ love for music and dancing, noting that it can be challenging to get her attention on the field.
“She’s got a lot of talent obviously. She plays her music as well. She brings a lot of energy. It’s actually hard to get her attention on the field. Sometimes, she’s dancing for the crowd and performing for them. I had my challenges trying to get hold of her but it’s nice to see her enjoying herself. So, let’s see how it goes this year,” Lanning commented on Rodrigues.
As she prepares to defend her Orange Cap from last year, Lanning’s primary focus remains on helping Delhi Capitals win the tournament. She emphasized the need to contribute with the bat while enjoying the challenge of playing in India against some tough bowlers.
“It will be nice to contribute like I did last year. But my number one priority is to win the tournament and help Delhi win the tournament. So obviously, as a batter, I need to make some runs. That’s the plan I am looking forward to. I have always enjoyed playing in India and it’s going to be tough. You’ve got some good bowlers out there and there’s no hiding these days as everybody knows what you do. So we’ll go out there, have some fun and see what happens,” Lanning said about her goals for the season.
In conclusion, Lanning highlighted the evolution of her captaincy style, emphasizing the importance of instinct and adaptability in T20 cricket. She expressed her eagerness to contribute to the team’s success and enjoy the challenges of the upcoming season.
The WPL 2024 promises to be an exciting tournament, with Delhi Capitals and Meg Lanning aiming to go one step further and clinch the title this year.
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