Delhi Capitals secured a third consecutive Women’s Premier League (WPL) Playoff spot, showcasing its all-round strength this season. Dominant performances in its last three matches ensured a top-three finish, and one player had delivered consistently — Jess Jonassen.
Jonassen was a key weapon with the ball last year, with skipper Meg Lanning entrusting her to bowl in crucial phases. This year, however, she has stepped into the spotlight not just with the ball, but with the bat as well, delivering crucial performances in both departments.
The Australian all-rounder notched her first two WPL half-centuries within a week. Her unbeaten 61 off 32 balls powered DC to a six-wicket win over Gujarat Giants, while her second fifty, part of a 146-run stand with Shafali Verma, helped crush Royal Challengers Bengaluru by nine wickets.
Footwork on point 🔥
Jess Jonassen displays her fine form with a lovely strike! 🚀
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A key factor in her resurgence was her promotion to No. 3, replacing a struggling Jemimah Rodrigues. Previously batting at No. 6, Jonassen had faced just 35 balls across five league matches in 2024. In contrast, her half-century against RCB alone saw her play 38 deliveries, allowing her more time to adapt to conditions.
Historically, Jonassen has thrived at No. 3, amassing 936 runs at an average of 28.36 in 44 innings, compared to No.6, where she scored 327 runs at 13.29 in 29 innings.
The move also allowed her to maximise her strength against pace. Since 2023, she has averaged 120 against pacers while striking at 171.42. Her numbers against spin had been weaker, averaging 21.85 with a strike rate of 129.66.
This season, however, she has significantly improved, striking at 166.66 against spin (compared to 161.90 against pace) and raising her average to 60 (68 vs pace).
In her two innings at No. 3, Jonassen has found the boundary frequently, striking 18 fours and three sixes with a boundary percentage of 30, a major leap from 17.79 over the past two years.
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Leading with the Ball
Jonassen is one of five all-rounders to have scored 100+ runs and taken five scalps this season (128 runs, nine wickets), and among them, she leads the wickets charts.
Her four-wicket haul against UP Warriorz was her best in the WPL, and she followed it with a three-fer against Mumbai Indians, dismissing key players Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur.
Though her first spells within the PowerPlay have been expensive, she has evolved as a death-overs specialist. Jonassen slows down the game and succeeds in finding wickets (six in 2024 and five so far in 2025), while remaining effective in the middle overs with four wickets each season.
Jonassen has solidified her place as a first-choice overseas player for DC, excelling in her expanded all-rounder role. With six matches under her belt at two venues and the Playoffs ahead, she has ample opportunity to acclimate to Indian conditions — vital preparation for the upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup.
Her standout WPL season could also boost her chances of breaking into the ultra-competitive Australian national squad, an achievement that would be a fitting reward for her resurgence.
