Smriti Mandhana has officially been appointed captain of the India women’s cricket team across all formats, succeeding Harmanpreet Kaur, who stepped down after leading the side for nearly a decade.
The announcement came on the same day Harmanpreet confirmed her decision to relinquish the captaincy, with the BCCI also unveiling India’s squads for the upcoming white-ball series against Zimbabwe, where Mandhana will begin her tenure as full-time skipper.
Mandhana Begins a New Era
Mandhana, who has served as Harmanpreet’s deputy for several years, becomes India’s permanent captain after building an impressive leadership résumé at both international and franchise level.
She has previously captained India in four ODIs, winning all four, and led the team in 18 T20Is between 2019 and 2025. Away from international cricket, Mandhana has also captained Maharashtra in domestic cricket and guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Women’s Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026.
Her first assignment as India’s full-time captain will be the six-match white-ball series against Zimbabwe, beginning with the opening T20I in Raipur on October 16.
Mandhana was also part of the selection meeting chaired by chief selector Amita Sharma that picked the squads for the Zimbabwe tour.
Mandhana Pays Tribute to Harmanpreet
Following her appointment, Mandhana described the role as a special honour while acknowledging the contribution of her predecessor.
“I would also like to acknowledge Harmanpreet and the contribution she has made as captain over the years. She has led the team with great commitment and has been an important part of our journey.”
Looking ahead to her new role, Mandhana added:
“I understand the responsibility that comes with this role and look forward to working with the team, learning along the way and giving my best to take Indian cricket forward.”
Leadership Changes Extend Beyond the Captaincy
The BCCI has also reshaped India’s leadership group by appointing different vice-captains for each white-ball format.
Shafali Verma has been promoted to vice-captain of the T20I side, while experienced all-rounder Deepti Sharma will serve as deputy in the ODI format.
The appointments signal India’s intention to develop a broader leadership structure as preparations continue for the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy next February, followed by the 2028 T20 World Cup and Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Review Meeting Charts Future Plans
Mandhana’s elevation followed a review meeting held in Guwahati earlier this week.
The meeting was chaired by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and attended by Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and head coach Amol Muzumdar, with discussions focusing on India’s long-term planning and major international tournaments over the next two years.
Three New Faces Earn Call-Ups
India have introduced several fresh faces for the Zimbabwe series.
Niki Prasad and Jintimani Kalita have received maiden T20I call-ups, while fast bowler Nandani Sharma has been rewarded with her first ODI selection after impressing in T20 internationals during India’s successful Asia Cup and Asian Games campaigns.
Prasad arrives after an outstanding India A series against Australia A, where she contributed with both bat and ball. The former India Under-19 captain scored an unbeaten 54 in the T20 series before producing 76 in the third one-day match and a match-winning 91 alongside seven wickets in the four-day fixture.
Kalita also earns an opportunity in the T20I squad, while Nandani’s recent performances have established her as one of India’s most promising young fast bowlers.
Several Players Miss Out
India’s T20I squad features several notable changes from the team that won the Asian Games gold medal.
Bharti Fulmali, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Singh and Radha Yadav have been left out, with Minnu Mani, Anushka Sharma, Niki Prasad and Jintimani Kalita coming into the squad.
The ODI side also looks significantly different from the group that toured Australia earlier this year.
Jemimah Rodrigues remains unavailable after suffering a serious hamstring injury during The Hundred, while G Kamalini, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana and Kashvee Gautam also miss out.
They have been replaced by Tejal Hasabnis, Yastika Bhatia, Vaishnavi Sharma, Nandani Sharma and Sayali Satghare.
India Tour of Zimbabwe Schedule
T20I Series (Raipur)
- First T20I – October 16
- Second T20I – October 18
- Third T20I – October 20
ODI Series (Vadodara)
- First ODI – October 23
- Second ODI – October 25
- Third ODI – October 28
India T20I Squad
Smriti Mandhana (captain), Shafali Verma (vice-captain), Niki Prasad, Harmanpreet Kaur, Anushka Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), G Kamalini (wk), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, N Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Jintimani Kalita, Minnu Mani.
India ODI Squad
Smriti Mandhana (captain), Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Harleen Deol, Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma (vice-captain), Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Vaishnavi Sharma, Nandani Sharma, N Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Renuka Singh.
With Mandhana now officially leading India, the Zimbabwe series will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the national side as it starts preparing for a packed international calendar that includes the Women’s Champions Trophy, T20 World Cup and the return of cricket to the Olympic Games.
