I’m ready: Smriti Mandhana is all set to replace Harmanpreet Kaur as India’s captain
Smriti Mandhana has made it clear that she is ready to step into the shoes of Harmanpreet Kaur whenever the opportunity arises, with the Indian vice-captain expressing confidence in her ability to lead the side.
The left-handed opener, who has become one of the mainstays of Indian women’s cricket over the past decade, believes her years as Harmanpreet’s deputy have prepared her for her next responsibility as captain.
“Yes, of course. I am ready,” Mandhana told The Tech Word News when asked about the possibility of captaining India in Harmanpreet’s absence.
Mandhana’s confidence is backed by an impressive record at the helm. The 29-year-old has captained India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs, winning 15 matches across the two formats. India are also unbeaten in the four ODIs she has led, underscoring her credentials as the natural successor to Harmanpreet.
Over the years, Mandhana has evolved from one of India’s most reliable batsmen to a leader capable of leading the side in high-pressure situations. Having served as vice-captain for several years, she gained valuable experience in decision making and people management and often stepped in whenever Harmanpreet was unavailable.
Her comments came on the heels of India’s memorable tour of England, which culminated in a a historic win in the first ever women’s Test at Lord’s.
A HISTORICAL TRIUMPH AT MR
Mandhana looked back fondly on India’s famous victory at the Home of Cricket, where the visitors secured an impressive 270-run victory over England. After posting 285 in their first innings, India declared at 341 for seven in the second innings before bowling England out for 170 and 186 to script history.
“It was amazing to be a part of the first ever women’s Test at Lord’s and more importantly to win it. To contribute to India’s historic victory was special. As kids we all dreamed of playing Test cricket, so doing it at Lord’s will make it even more memorable,” said Mandhana.
The opener played a key role in India’s triumph, scoring 83 in the first innings and followed it up with another fluent half-century in the second. Her contributions at the top laid the platform for one of the most significant victories in Indian women’s cricket.
The triumph at Lord’s offered India some respite after the disappointment of losing the T20I series to England and crashing out of the Women’s T20 World Cup before the semi-finals after a defeat to Australia.
For Mandhana, the historic win was another reminder of how far Indian women’s cricket has come. And with Harmanpreet continuing to lead the side, India can take solace in the fact that the experienced representative is ready to answer the call whenever needed.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
15 Jul 2026 13:49 IST