Meg Lanning Ready for New Challenge with UP Warriorz

Dressed in a blue polo shirt and feeling "fresh and energised to play" in her new jersey, Meg Lanning stood on an open-air terrace in Navi Mumbai on Monday afternoon. The venue was just kilometres from DY Patil Stadium, where Australia's World Cup dreams ended months earlier.

Retired from international cricket, Lanning wasn't present for that match, but she would have loved to see Australia retain the title last won under her captaincy.

With five World Cups as captain, seven as a player, and a Commonwealth gold medal, Lanning understands championship hunger. Now, she faces a new challenge: leading UP Warriorz to a Women's Premier League title—one of the few high-profile trophies missing from her cabinet.

UP Warriorz have dropped a level on the points table each season, making them desperate for silverware. Lanning is motivated by this challenge.

"Coming into a new franchise, you don't really know how things operate," Lanning said. "That's part of the initial week. I'm still getting used to it, struggling a bit with all the names. I've had breaks between tournaments, so I come in excited with great energy. Not knowing the coaching staff or many players is exciting—a little nervous too—but I'm looking forward to that challenge."

Lanning is comfortable with the squad's skill levels, despite some inexperience compared to her Delhi Capitals setup.

"Trying to understand people's roles and how it all works," she explained. "I like to bring different perspectives and give players confidence to execute their roles. It's important to come together off the field—often on-field performance reflects that. We have a good base at UP Warriorz to enjoy ourselves, have fun, and feel confident bringing skills to the field. That leads to success."

Since retiring from international cricket due to burnout, Lanning has balanced her priorities well, playing 85 T20 games across various leagues over three years.

"I always had high expectations for myself and my teams," she said. "I reached a point where my priorities changed. Stepping back from international cricket took getting used to, but now I have great balance and time away from the game. International cricket comes with challenges—staying fresh mentally is hard."

"But when I come into these tournaments, I'm refreshed and ready to perform. That hasn't changed. I still want to do well and help my team win."

The musical performance on Monday was brief, but for Lanning in UP colours, the real show is about to begin.