The WPL 2025 is just three days away, and all five teams are gearing up for a competitive season. This marks the third edition of the franchise league, featuring some of the finest talents in women’s cricket.
Among the teams to watch is Delhi Capitals Women (DC-W), who have reached the finals twice but are yet to lift the trophy—falling short against Mumbai Indians Women (MI-W) in the inaugural season and Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB-W) last year.
Known for fostering emerging talent, DC-W recently welcomed 22-year-old Japan Women’s cricketer Ahilya Chandel as a net bowler. Chandel, who was seen practicing with the squad, opened up about her cricketing journey in a chat with the franchise.
“I’ve played for Japan, and I also play cricket back in Sydney, Australia. I started playing when I was eight years old, thanks to my dad. He’s Indian, so he passed on his love for cricket to me. When he discovered that Japan had a cricket team, he encouraged me to give it a shot. Since making my debut in 2022, I’ve represented Japan, and now I’m here,” Chandel shared in an interview with Delhi Capitals.
Chandel also spoke about her interactions with DC-W players, particularly Indian batting star Jemimah Rodrigues, who offered her words of encouragement during practice. She described the experience of bowling to elite players as a massive learning opportunity.
“I had a conversation with Jemi about my bowling since I’m here as a net bowler. She reassured me about my skills, which was really encouraging. It’s a big opportunity to bowl to world-class cricketers, develop my own skills, and assess the gap between my level and theirs. When I bowl to top-class batters, I try to anticipate their strategies and stay one step ahead,” Chandel added.
Chandel has been an impactful player for Japan Women, having played 32 matches and taken 30 wickets at an average of 17.06, maintaining an economy of 4.58. Her best figures of 4/8 came against China Women last season, further cementing her reputation as a rising star in international cricket.”