Lanning guided Australia to the Twenty20 World Cup title last month.
The 30-year-old, who was listed by the Delhi franchise for Rs 1.1 crore in the players’ auction, captained Australia in 100 of her 132 T20 internationals – the most by a woman in the shortest format in the game.
Among the greats of the game, she scored over 3,000 runs in T20 cricket with two hundred and 15 fifty. She also has 15 hundreds and 21 half centuries in 50 overs format.
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“It’s a very proud moment for me, first to be involved with Delhi and then to lead them. It’s about having fun, getting the best out of yourself,” Lanning said.
“The WPL is a huge moment for the sport, it’s the next logical step and it makes a lot of sense. Cricket in India is about people’s lives and having the WPL up and running and being involved in something like that, it’s amazing. It will only grow in the years to come.”
The Delhi Capitals begin their campaign against the Bangalore Royal Challengers on Sunday.
Other Aussies leading their teams in the WPL include Beth Mooney (Gujarat Giants) and Alyssa Healy (UP Warriorz). indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the Indians from Mumbai and Smriti Mandhana will skipper Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Three of the five WPL teams belong to Indian Premier League teams. The tournament will take place from March 4-26 at two venues in and around Mumbai.
(With contributions from Reuters)
