In a Delhi Capitals set-up that will be led by the young and exuberant Jemimah Rodrigues during the fourth Women’s Premier League season, Marizanne Kapp is the experienced old pro. The 36-year-old South African, by virtue of her all-round variety, has been indispensable to whichever side she has turned up for over the course of a lengthy career. It has been no different at DC since the outset.

It puts Kapp in the position to provide an insightful view on the leadership change that has transpired at the Capitals.

With Australia’s Meg Lanning, who guided DC to three runner-up finishes in a row, moving to UP Warriorz during November’s mega auction, the 25-year-old Jemimah has been asked to step into those big shoes.

“Losing Meg as a captain is obviously a big thing,” Kapp reflected during a virtual interaction on Monday. “But in saying that, when they asked me, a couple of years ago, who should be India’s next captain, I said Jemimah. I feel like she’s one of those players who can bring a team together, with her personality and the caring that she has. I feel like she’s always been a leader. There will be challenges. But I believe Jemimah will take this opportunity with both hands and she’ll be very successful.”

A prevalent talking point as DC prepares for the new season has been its failure to find a way on the big occasions in previous years. Kapp doesn’t want to read too much into those results.

“At some stages, it was just a bit of bad luck,” Kapp stated. “It’s a mixed bag of that and us not having our best day in the final. But I wouldn’t say it’s a case of not being able to cope with the pressure.”

ENDS