Smriti Mandhana set for Indian captaincy. But is she good enough?

For months now, questions have swirled around the future of Indian women’s cricket and whether the team should usher in a new era by replacing Harmanpreet Kaur as captain. These talks only intensified after India’s disappointing campaign in the Women’s T20 World Cup, where they failed to progress from the group stage.

The fallout from this exit led to calls for sweeping changes. Several former players and pundits have argued that India should start planning for the future by moving on from not only Harmanpreet but also head coach Amol Muzumdar. Among those voices was ICC Hall of Famer Diana Edulji, who publicly suggested that India should start looking beyond its long-serving captain. Mithali Raj also tipped the opener to succeed Harmanpreet and take the Indian women’s team forward in all three formats.

So the obvious question is who will take over if the selectors decide to make that switch.

The answer, at least on paper, seems straightforward. Smriti Mandhana is India’s vice-captain, one of the oldest players in the team and, after Harmanpreet, arguably the biggest face of women’s cricket in the country. in the middle of a debate Mandhana recently said that she is ready to become India’s captain if he gets the chance. Add to that her success with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League, where she won two titles as captain, and the case becomes even stronger.

However, running a franchise and running India are two very different tasks. Winning the WPL is one thing; leading a national team in an ICC tournament, the intense scrutiny and pressure of expectation is something else entirely. The question remains: is Mandhana ready to prove that her leadership skills extend far beyond franchise cricket?

HER COACH SURE THINKS SO

Although her record in India is encouraging, Mandhana has also endured difficult spells as captain. Last year was particularly challenging. RCB failed to qualify for the play-offs, while Mandhana also endured a difficult stint with Ratnagiri Jets in the Maharashtra Premier League, managing just one win in six matches.

However, numbers don’t always tell the whole story.

Devika Palshikar, who worked closely with Mandhana during her time with Ratnagiri Jets and watched her leadership develop, believes the left-hander is ready to take on international responsibilities.

“Fortunately, I worked very closely with Smriti only last season in the WMPL where she was the captain of our team and I got to observe her leadership qualities at first hand. During the press conference I even told Smriti, ‘I think you are now ready to take on international responsibilities as a captain’,” Palshikar told India Today in an exclusive interview.

That confirmation has weight. Palshikar doesn’t just assess Mandhana from a distance; she saw how the opener works in the changing rooms, how he treats the players and how he reacts under pressure.

Importantly, Palshikar does not judge captaincy by results alone.

“No, as I said, even last year when she was captain, we only managed to win one out of six games. But that doesn’t mean she’s not a good captain. It’s also about team combinations. A team doesn’t win simply because the captain is very good, nor does it lose just because the captain is bad. A lot depends on the overall combination.”

Her argument reflects a reality that is often ignored after defeats. Captains are ultimately judged on scores, but results depend on a number of factors – squad balance, injuries, quality of opposition and form.

BUT NOT YET

Despite her admiration for Mandhana Palshikar’s leadership, she is not advocating an immediate change at the top.

The former India pacer believes that Harmanpreet still has a lot to offer and that one disappointing ICC tournament should not force the selectors to make hasty decisions.

“But there’s still a lot left in Harman. After that T20 campaign where we didn’t perform well, I heard a lot of people saying that India need to look at other captaincy options and replacements. But we shouldn’t start thinking differently just because of one disappointing tournament or one failure under Harman.”

“That means if the selectors are planning for the future, then Smriti must be the choice.

This balanced assessment perhaps reflects the mood in Indian cricket itself. While the criticism of Harmanpreet intensified, there was no indication that the team management wanted to make an immediate change.

The selectors also continued to back the veteran batter. India recently retained Harmanpreet as captain for the Asian Games, indicating that the board remains committed to continuity.

MANDHANA SIDE NUMBERS

Unlike many captaincy contenders, Mandhan has already had the opportunity to lead India whenever Harmanpreet was unavailable. And her record is impressive to say the least.

In 22 international matches as captain, Mandhana led India to 15 victories. In the ODI format, her record is flawless, with India winning all four matches under her leadership.

These numbers bolster her claim, but Palshikar believes Mandhana’s greatest qualities cannot be measured statistically.

For her, the defining characteristic is equanimity.

SHADES OF MS DHONI

In Indian cricket, comparisons with MS Dhoni are reserved for only a handful of leaders. Dhoni’s reputation has been built not only on trophies but also on his ability to remain calm amidst chaos and make sound decisions under pressure.

Palshikar sees similar traits in Mandhana.

“I have always felt that she is a very calm person, much like MS Dhoni. She doesn’t take rash decisions. She actually thinks things through carefully before she makes a call, whether on or off the field. Her communication with the younger players is excellent and she carries everyone along.”

The comparison is striking.

Management in modern cricket goes far beyond tactical decisions. Captains are expected to manage personalities, maintain harmony in the dressing room and nurture young talent. With that, Mandhana seems to be ticking several boxes.

“One thing I really admire about her is the confidence she gives to the players. When a captain puts a reassuring hand on your shoulder, it can bring out the best in you. Smriti always supports her players even when they are not performing well. I believe she has the talent to bring out the best in those around her.”

This ability to inspire confidence is one of the qualities that makes Dhoni special. His faith in players often changed careers. Palshikar believes that Mandhana has a similar instinct.

“We’ve seen it in the WPL, with her team performing and winning titles. The same can be said for Harman, which is perhaps why they’ve both been successful in the tournament. They each have their own qualities and different leadership styles, and those approaches suit their teams.”

IF NOT MANDHANA THEN WHO?

Despite all the debate over Harmanpreet’s future, India’s leadership succession plan seems weak behind Mandhana.

However, Palshikar believes one player stands out.

“Not as a competitor, but yes, if Smriti is unavailable for some reason, then I would definitely go for Jemimah. Fortunately, I have also worked extensively with Jemimah and had the opportunity to observe her leadership qualities up close.”

Jemimah Rodrigues has begun to build an impressive leadership resume. After spending three seasons alongside Meg Lanning at the Delhi Capitals, she had the opportunity to learn from one of the best captains the women’s game has produced.

This year, Rodrigues stepped into a leadership role in Delhi and led the franchise to yet another final. Despite Delhi suffering a fourth straight defeat in the title race, Palshikar believes the youngster has acquitted himself admirably.

“The way she has led her team in the WPL recently has been really commendable. She has stepped in as captain and has effectively taken over from Meg Lanning who has done the job for three years. I think Jemimah has been successful in that role.”

“Unfortunately the team ended up with the same result, but she handled it very well. So if not Smriti, then my choice would be Jemimah.”

SMRITI’S MOVE MAY BE SOME DISTANCE STILL

But for now, Mandhana’s wait continues.

After India’s exit from the Women’s T20 World Cup, the head coach Amol Muzumdar publicly backed Harmanpreet to continue as captainwhile also making it clear that the final call rests with the voters.

Recent developments suggest that India are not ready to let go of the captain who won the ODI World Cup title last year and has been at the forefront of Indian women’s cricket for over a decade.

However, succession planning cannot be put off indefinitely.

Zimbabwe’s tour of India in October, featuring three T20Is and three ODIs, could provide another opportunity for Mandhan to showcase the leadership qualities Palshikar witnessed up close.

Whether that opportunity will come this year or beyond remains uncertain. But one thing is becoming increasingly clear: if India is looking for Harmanpreet Kaur’s successor, Smriti Mandhana is no longer just the obvious candidate.

The bigger question isn’t whether she’s ready. The question is whether India is ready to hand over the command to it.

– The end

Published on:

17 Jul 2026 09:35 IST