Former India captain Diana Edulji has called for major changes in the leadership structure of the Indian women’s cricket team following their disappointing group stage exit from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. Speaking during the trophy unveiling ceremony of the Maharani Trophy KSCA T20 in Bengaluru, Edulji suggested that the BCCI should introduce split captaincy and separate coaching setups for different formats.
Her comments have sparked fresh discussions about the future of the Indian women’s team, with the legendary cricketer backing Smriti Mandhana to take over the white-ball captaincy while allowing Harmanpreet Kaur to focus on Test cricket.
Diana Edulji Smriti Mandhana Captaincy Call
Edulji believes the time has come for Smriti Mandhana to step into a bigger leadership role. The current vice-captain has been one of India’s most consistent performers across formats and, according to Edulji, has waited long enough for the opportunity.
“We cannot keep Smriti waiting in the wings for so long. We can ask Smriti to lead at least in the T20 format, and perhaps in 50-over too. Harmanpreet can continue in Tests,” Edulji said.
The proposal would see Smriti Mandhana as India captain in both T20Is and One-Day Internationals, while Harmanpreet Kaur continues to lead the side in the longest format.
Reducing the Burden on Harmanpreet Kaur
Edulji also expressed concern over the workload carried by Harmanpreet Kaur as captain across all three formats. She believes the responsibility has started affecting the senior batter’s performances.
“I believe Harmanpreet is finding it difficult. Her game is getting affected, so let her have a free hand as a batter. It’s been too long; we don’t have new ideas,” she explained.
According to Edulji, sharing leadership responsibilities could help Harmanpreet play with greater freedom while also allowing the team to benefit from fresh tactical approaches.
Diana Edulji Split Coaching Proposal
A major recommendation comes from Diana Edulji: split coaching, where separate head coaches would manage the Test, ODI and T20I teams.
Instead of one coach overseeing all formats, she suggested appointing dedicated coaches for each format to bring fresh ideas and specialised planning.
“We can even have three different coaches; we don’t need one coach for all three formats. It’s very important to bring in fresh ideas and get out of our comfort zone,” Edulji said.
She believes this model would reduce workload on coaches while helping players receive more focused guidance depending on the format.
Preparing Future Leaders
Edulji also stressed the importance of grooming the next generation of leaders. Along with Smriti Mandhana, she identified opener Shafali Verma as another player who should be developed for future leadership responsibilities.
Her suggestions come at a time when Indian women’s cricket is entering an important phase, with several young players becoming regular members of the national side.
Whether the BCCI decides to adopt these recommendations remains to be seen. However, Edulji’s proposal for Smriti Mandhana as India captain in white-ball cricket and a split coaching system has certainly added momentum to the debate over the future direction of the Indian women’s team following their World Cup disappointment.
