Australian legend Meg Lanning has been SOLD to UP Warriorz for Rs 1.90 crore in one of the biggest bidding battles of the WPL 2026 Auction so far. Delhi Capitals, her former franchise, fought hard to retain her but eventually withdrew as the price surged close to the Rs 2 crore mark.
Lanning entered the auction with a base price of Rs 50 lakh, and the moment her name was announced, Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz locked into an aggressive bidding contest. Delhi pushed the price steadily but chose not to bid further after crossing Rs 1.80 crore, allowing UP Warriorz to secure one of the most iconic leaders in women’s cricket.
This is a massive shift in the WPL landscape, considering that Meg Lanning led Delhi Capitals to three consecutive WPL finals, becoming one of the most successful captains in the league’s short history.
Cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra reacted to the move, saying that UPW might have found their new skipper in Meg Lanning, praising her leadership pedigree and match-winning ability.
The auction has already witnessed several big signings today. Gujarat Giants bought Sophie Devine for Rs 2 crore, UP Warriorz used their Right-to-Match to bring back Deepti Sharma, and Amelia Kerr reunited with Mumbai Indians for Rs 3 crore. Renuka Singh Thakur also joined Gujarat Giants for Rs 60 lakh.
With Meg Lanning now set to wear UP Warriorz colours, the franchise has made one of the strongest leadership picks of the 2026 season. More updates from the WPL 2026 Auction coming soon.
