UP Warriorz celebrated the announcement of Meg Lanning as the team’s new captain with a special event in Navi Mumbai on Monday. Groups of young fans and cricketers under the age of 12 gathered to surprise their newly-appointed leader.
A Joyous Celebration
The celebration featured girls welcoming Lanning with music and song, showcasing a thoughtfully curated mix of popular Hollywood tracks and cultural melodies in honor of the Australian cricket star. During the event, Lanning answered various questions from the young fans. She revealed that dosa is one of her favorite Indian dishes and shared that Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting were her cricketing idols while growing up.
The girls also presented Lanning with heartfelt messages on a board, wishing her and the team luck for the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) season. Warm interactions followed as Lanning signed autographs, posed for group photographs, and spent quality time with the children, making the event memorable for all attendees. This occasion highlighted UP Warriorz’s commitment to inspire young talent both on and off the field.
Inspiring Young Talent
The celebration further illustrated the growing fanbase for women’s cricket and demonstrated how UP Warriorz are fostering aspirations among young girls. With Meg Lanning at the helm, the franchise is poised for an exciting new chapter in the upcoming fourth season of the Women’s Premier League.
Earlier that day, UP Warriorz head coach Abhishek Nayar expressed confidence in the team’s potential to make a significant impact in the 2026 WPL season, should the squad successfully gel and perform as a cohesive unit.
At last year’s mega auction, UP Warriorz assembled a mix of experienced and young talents, aiming to secure their maiden title under Lanning’s leadership. “My message is very simple. This sport is about the players, not the coach. The type of cricket you are playing, just play that type of cricket. It is important that you play as a team. If this team can play together, it will be very good. The vision is clear. We will try to play good cricket. Whenever you enter a tournament, the mindset is always to win it. We will keep an eye on every player’s form and try to perform well,” Nayar stated during a pre-season press conference.
A Platform for Future Stars
The WPL has proven fruitful in discovering talent that has transitioned to the Indian national team, and Nayar promised that this trend will continue in the upcoming season, scheduled to take place from January 9 to February 5. “The format and the specialty of this tournament is that they are continuously giving good players to India and the Indian team. This time, we will try to get a new star from this tournament.”