Harmanpreet Kaur should pass captaincy baton to Smriti Mandhana across formats: Ex-Indian cricketer

Former Indian captain Shantha Rangaswamy has reckoned that Harmanpreet Kaur should pass the captaincy baton to the opening batter Smriti Mandhana across formats as it would help the national team in the long-term.

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Speaking exclusively to PTI, Rangaswamy stated that Harmanpreet leaving captaincy would help her to be a part of the team as an invaluable member without the burden of leadership, adding that she still has three or four years of cricket left in her. 

“It’s overdue. Because Harman as a batter and a fielder is brilliant. Yes. But tactically, she can fumble at times. I feel she can contribute more if she’s without the burden of captaincy. See, when it comes after a success like this (World Cup win), it will not be taken well but in the interest of Indian cricket and in Harman’s own interest, I think she can contribute much more as a batter without the burden of captaincy,” Rangaswamy said to PTI.

“She still has three-four years of big-time cricket left. Not being captain would allow her to do that. Smriti should be made captain across formats. You need to plan for future World Cups also,” she added.

Furthermore, Rangaswamy emphasized that the old Indian women’s team used to have a weaker batting link. However, the current Indian team has a stronger batting unit, but relatively weaker bowling attack. 

“In our days batting used to be the weaker link. Now batting has a settled look but bowling is a concern. Fielding too can be a lot better. Australia lost only because they did not have a good bowling attack. I would say Pakistan and Bangladesh had better bowling attacks. The batters did the job for us,” she concluded.

On Sunday, November 2, Indian women’s team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 grand finale to lift the silverware for the first time in tournament’s history.

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