Just days after India’s historic Women’s World Cup 2025 victory, former India captain Shantha Rangaswamy has stirred debate by urging the BCCI to make a leadership change, suggesting Smriti Mandhana should take over as India’s captain from Harmanpreet Kaur.
Harmanpreet, 36, led India to their first-ever Women’s World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. She had previously captained India to the 2020 T20 World Cup final, where the team finished runners-up after losing to Australia by 85 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“Smriti Should Lead Across Formats”
Speaking to the media, Rangaswamy praised Harmanpreet’s talent but questioned her tactical sharpness as a leader. “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,” Rangaswamy said.
The veteran cricketer suggested that Smriti Mandhana, India’s vice-captain and one of the most consistent performers in recent years, should be appointed captain across all formats. “Smriti should be made captain across formats. You need to plan for future World Cups also,” Rangaswamy emphasized.
“A Difficult Decision, But in India’s Best Interest”
Rangaswamy admitted that this might not be the ideal moment for such a decision, given India’s recent success, but maintained that it would ultimately help both Harmanpreet and the team.
“When it comes after a success like this, 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 consistency,” she explained.
Rangaswamy also noted that stepping down could help extend Harmanpreet’s playing career, allowing her to focus solely on her performance. “She still has three-four years of big-time cricket left. Not being captain would allow her to do that,” the former skipper added.
As India celebrates its long-awaited World Cup glory, Rangaswamy’s remarks have sparked fresh discussion within the cricketing community about India’s leadership roadmap and the potential rise of Smriti Mandhana as the next all-format captain.
