As India reflects on its historic Women’s World Cup 2025 triumph, the focus has swiftly shifted toward the future of the team’s leadership. With current captain Harmanpreet Kaur now 36 and entering the twilight of her illustrious career, the search for a long-term successor has intensified. While Smriti Mandhana has long been the frontrunner, South African legend Marizanne Kapp has thrown a curveball by backing a different star. Kapp believes that the next captain should be someone who ‘brings people together’ and possesses an innate ‘caring factor.’ Her endorsement comes at a pivotal time as the WPL 2026 season approaches, marking a significant transition in leadership roles across the league.
Marizanne Kapp endorses Jemimah Rodrigues for India captaincy
In a recent interview on January 5, 2026, Kapp made a strong case for Jemimah Rodrigues to succeed Harmanpreet Kaur as the leader of the national side. Kapp emphasized that she had identified Jemimah as “captaincy material” several years ago, citing her infectious personality and natural ability to lead from the front.
Kapp argued that leadership isn’t just about tactical acumen but also about the personality factor, where Jemimah excels by fostering a sense of unity within the squad. With Jemimah having just guided India to a World Cup title, highlighted by her monumental unbeaten 127 in the semi-final against Australia, Kapp believes the 25-year-old is now fully prepared to handle the immense pressure of leading a cricket-obsessed nation like India.
“I actually said a couple of years ago that Jemimah should be India’s next captain. She’s always been a leader. Her personality, the way she brings people together, the caring factor, that all matters. Even experienced captains face challenges. Jemimah has a lot of senior players around her, and I think she’ll take this opportunity with both hands,” Kapp said in an interview with Cricbuzz.
The WPL 2026 leadership shift: From Meg Lanning to Rodrigues
The discussion around Jemimah’s captaincy is no longer theoretical, as she was officially named the Delhi Capitals (DC) captain for the WPL 2026 season. She steps into the massive shoes of the legendary Meg Lanning, who has moved to lead the UP Warriorz. This appointment is seen as a strategic “test run” by the Indian cricketing fraternity to evaluate her leadership in a high-stakes environment.
“Losing Meg as a captain is obviously a big thing. She’s a very successful captain, not only for DC but in world cricket in general,” Kapp added.
DC co-owner Parth Jindal expressed total confidence in her, noting that her journey from being the franchise’s first-ever pick to now leading them in their fourth season is a ‘full-circle moment.’ As DC kicks off their campaign against Mumbai Indians on January 10, all eyes will be on Jemimah to see if she can lead the three-time runners-up to their first title, potentially cementing her claim as Harmanpreet’s heir apparent.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
