Delhi Capital’s captain Meg Lanning’s legacy as a captain is marked by her ability to lead teams through tense, high-pressure moments with composure and strategic brilliance. Over the years, she has turned the tide in favor of her team on numerous occasions, often making it look effortless. However, on a rare evening in Bengaluru, Lanning momentarily let her emotions slip. After her dismissal, she instinctively lifted her bat as if to strike the stumps before regaining composure and walking back to the dugout, visibly frustrated.

This reaction raises an unexpected question: Could there be a technical flaw creeping into Lanning’s game?

For the third time in five matches this season, she was undone by an incoming delivery. While it was understandable when a world-class pacer like Shabnim Ismail exploited this vulnerability in the opening game, similar dismissals at the hands of domestic Indian bowlers Kranti Goud and Kashvee Gautam indicate that opposition teams have identified a pattern. Despite a stellar knock of 69 against UP Warriorz, where she seemed to rediscover her touch, her overall campaign in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has been scratchy. Bengaluru’s conditions have assisted seamers early on, but Lanning’s inability to dictate terms, even against relatively inexperienced bowlers, stands in stark contrast to the authority with which her opening partner, Shafali Verma, played against Gujarat Giants.

Shafali, too, could have faced an early exit had Pheobe Litchfield not mistimed a forward dive at deep mid-wicket. Once she survived that moment, she dominated the bowling attack. She took on Deandra Dottin’s bouncer with a six and confidently flicked her slower delivery to the boundary. Ash Gardner’s off-spin was met with equal disdain, and the highlight of her innings was a towering six over extra cover against Priya Mishra.

In contrast, Lanning struggled through her 13-ball stay, scoring only three runs. However, her teammate Jess Jonassen, who played a match-winning knock, remains unfazed by Lanning’s dip in form. “It’s not a concern at all,” Jonassen stated. “She’s a world-class player, and even the best miss out a few times. Just a couple of innings ago, she scored a quick 60-odd. She’s one of the hardest-working players in our team, always training, always refining her skills. We have complete faith that she has plenty of runs left in that bat this season.”

For now, Lanning’s struggles might not appear to be a major concern, given that Delhi Capitals have managed to secure victories. However, her inconsistency is part of a broader challenge within the Delhi Capitals batting unit. While Shafali has failed to capitalize on her starts, the middle order has been inconsistent, barring a couple of key innings from Jemimah Rodrigues. Recognizing the need for better utilization of their resources, DC made an interesting tactical adjustment against Gujarat Giants by promoting Jess Jonassen to No. 3—a move that proved highly effective.

Despite early movement for the seamers, Jonassen kept the scoreboard ticking, ensuring Delhi Capitals did not falter in their chase of 128. Her innings began with a fortunate boundary, but she quickly capitalized on wayward deliveries from Giants’ bowlers. The decision to send her up the order was premeditated. “I had a conversation with JB [Jonathan Batty] earlier in the day, and they wanted to inject some firepower and intent just after the powerplay if we lost an early wicket,” Jonassen explained. “I’m really pleased that I could deliver, and I appreciate the faith they showed in me.”

It remains to be seen whether DC will persist with this strategy. However, on Tuesday, the tactic worked to perfection, as Jonassen’s unbeaten 61 off 32 balls, complemented by Shafali’s brisk 44, secured a convincing win. While DC has won three out of five games, only their victory against Gujarat Giants can be classified as a dominant performance. Their campaign has been characterized by individual players stepping up at different moments, but as a collective unit, they have yet to fire consistently.

This inconsistency, paradoxically, highlights the depth and strength of the squad. Even without Lanning, Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, and Shafali performing at their peak, Delhi Capitals sits atop the tightly contested points table at the tournament’s halfway mark.

Just as Lanning is unlikely to ignore her technical struggles, the rest of the squad is aware that they have room for improvement. While their latest victory was their most comprehensive yet, the team is far from its full potential. As Jonassen suggested, there will be a conscious effort to refine their shortcomings in training. Over the coming days, DC’s net sessions might be just as intriguing as their matches, as they look to unleash their best cricket in the remainder of the WPL.

For more such interesting updates , Subscribe to The Sports Prince.

Also follow us on instagram for regular updates