Mandhana Leans on Harmanpreet’s Experience as India Begin a New Era

India's women's cricket team is officially in the Smriti Mandhana era. The new all-format captain has spoken about the road ahead, saying the experience of predecessor Harmanpreet Kaur will be vital as a young squad finds its feet.

Mandhana took over earlier this month after Harmanpreet — the team's longest-serving captain — stepped down after nearly a decade in charge. She described leading India as a special honour and promised to lift training, power-hitting and professionalism another notch.

A players-first leader

Mandhana has called herself a leader who puts her players first, believing a captain's job is to stay available for everyone and let each player grow in her own role. Her credentials are strong: she has captained India before in white-ball cricket and guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to two Women's Premier League titles, top-scoring in a final along the way.

Building toward home glory

The roadmap points to the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy at home in February 2027, plus the T20 World Cup and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. Harmanpreet remains in the squads against Zimbabwe, with Shafali Verma as T20I vice-captain and Deepti Sharma deputising in ODIs — a blend of old and new the new skipper is keen to keep together.

Source: NDTV Sports / India TV / Sports wires