Former India captain Mithali Raj has endorsed the leadership transition following Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision to step down as captain across all three formats, backing Smriti Mandhana as the ideal candidate to lead the team into its next phase.
Speaking after Harmanpreet’s announcement, Mithali described the change as a natural step in the team’s evolution and said Mandhana’s experience as vice-captain makes her the strongest choice to take charge of the Indian women’s side.
“Smriti has been the vice-captain for quite some time now, so she understands the team and the environment very well,” Mithali told Hindustan Times.
Mandhana is expected to begin her tenure during India’s upcoming white-ball series against Zimbabwe, comprising three T20Is and three ODIs between October 16 and 28. Shafali Verma has been named T20I vice-captain, while Deepti Sharma will serve as vice-captain in the ODI format.
Mithali Pays Tribute to Harmanpreet’s Legacy
Mithali also praised Harmanpreet Kaur for her contribution to Indian women’s cricket, highlighting the progress the team made under her leadership.
“Harmanpreet has had a remarkable run as captain and has contributed immensely to Indian women’s cricket,” Mithali said.
“It is important to acknowledge that when you talk about a change in leadership. But every team goes through a transition at some point, and I feel this is the right time for India to look ahead.”
Harmanpreet’s tenure included several landmark achievements. She captained India to their maiden senior ICC title by winning the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup on home soil and later guided the team to a second successive Asian Games gold medal in 2026.
She also oversaw India’s fourth Women’s Asia Cup title in 2026 and became the first player, male or female, to captain 150 women’s T20 internationals during the tournament.
In Test cricket, Harmanpreet led India to their first-ever Test victory over Australia in 2023 before guiding the side to a historic win over England at Lord’s in 2026.
Fearless Batter Who Changed India’s Approach
Mithali believes Harmanpreet’s biggest impact came through the aggressive style she brought to India’s batting.
“When Harmanpreet made her debut, the power she brought to her batting really stood out,” Mithali said.
“The innings she played at the 2017 World Cup is one that will always be remembered.”
Harmanpreet’s unbeaten 171 against Australia in the 2017 World Cup semi-final remains one of the most celebrated innings in the history of women’s cricket.
Mandhana Ready for the Next Challenge
Mithali also pointed to Mandhana’s captaincy success with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League as further evidence that she is ready to lead India across all formats.
“She is calm and composed, reads the game well and has been a good support to the younger players,” Mithali said.
“With the Champions Trophy coming up, Smriti has her work cut out.”
India’s next major assignment under the new leadership group will be the inaugural Women’s T20 Champions Trophy in February 2027, followed by the 2028 Olympic Games and the 2029 Women’s ODI World Cup.
According to Mithali, the transition should focus on developing a stable leadership structure while preparing the next generation of Indian cricketers.
“The focus should be on building the right combination, giving players clarity about their roles and gradually preparing the next generation of players,” she said.
“I think Smriti is well suited to the role of all-format captain.”
