Leadership change? 'Smriti Mandhana should take over from Harmanpreet Kaur'

NEW DELHI: A time aft India’s historical triumph astatine the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, erstwhile India skipper Shantha Rangaswamy has called for a enactment modulation — suggesting that Harmanpreet Kaur should measurement down arsenic skipper for the semipermanent payment of Indian cricket.Rangaswamy believes that relinquishing the captaincy would really assistance the 36-year-old, who remains 1 of the team’s astir invaluable assets arsenic some a batter and a fielder.

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“It’s overdue. Because Harman arsenic a batter and a fielder is brilliant. Yes. But tactically, she tin fumble astatine times. I consciousness she tin lend much if she’s without the load of captaincy,” Rangaswamy told PTI.She said the determination should beryllium taken keeping India’s aboriginal successful mind, with the adjacent ODI World Cup scheduled successful 2029 and the T20 World Cup successful the UK adjacent year.

Rangaswamy besides backed Smriti Mandhana, 29, arsenic the earthy successor to pb the broadside crossed formats.“See, erstwhile it comes aft a occurrence similar this (World Cup win), it volition not beryllium taken good but successful the involvement of Indian cricket and successful Harman's ain interest, I deliberation she tin lend overmuch much arsenic a batter without the load of captaincy.“She inactive has three-four years of big-time cricket left. Not being skipper would let her to bash that.

Smriti should beryllium made skipper crossed formats. You request to program for aboriginal World Cups also,” she said.Drawing a parallel with the men’s team, Rangaswamy noted however the selectors moved connected from Rohit Sharma aft helium guided India to the Champions Trophy rubric earlier this year, highlighting the request to deliberation up alternatively than remainder connected caller glory.

‘BOWLING STILL A CONCERN’: AREAS INDIA MUST ADDRESSWhile celebrating India’s title-winning tally astatine home, Rangaswamy besides pointed retired the team’s vulnerabilities — peculiarly successful the bowling department.“In our days batting utilized to beryllium the weaker link. Now batting has a settled look but bowling is simply a concern. Fielding excessively tin beryllium a batch better.“Australia mislaid lone due to the fact that they did not person a bully bowling attack. I would accidental Pakistan and Bangladesh had amended bowling attacks. The batters did the occupation for us,” she said, referring to Australia’s semifinal decision to India aft failing to support 338.‘10-FOLD GROWTH IN THE GAME’S POPULARITY’Rangaswamy predicted that India’s World Cup triumph volition trigger an unprecedented emergence successful the popularity of women’s cricket crossed the country.“Ten years down the line, you would spot the monolithic interaction of this win. This volition animate millions to instrumentality up the sport,” she said.She besides praised outgoing main selector Neetu David and her sheet for assembling a championship-winning squad that delivered erstwhile it mattered most.