Former Indian cricket captain Mithali Raj has urged for a change in the leadership of the Indian women’s cricket team following their disappointing exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Raj has endorsed Jemimah Rodrigues as a potential successor to current skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, suggesting that the time is ripe for a transition to younger leadership ahead of the next major tournaments.
Harmanpreet Kaur, who took over the captaincy from Mithali in 2020, has had a tenure marked by both highs and lows. Under her leadership, India reached the finals of the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the semi-finals of the 2023 T20 World Cup. However, her decision-making in key moments has come under scrutiny, particularly during the recent World Cup campaign, where India was eliminated in the group stage.
India’s World Cup journey was marred by inconsistency. Their campaign began with a crushing 58-run loss to New Zealand, setting a difficult tone for the tournament. However, they rebounded with convincing victories over Pakistan (by 6 wickets) and Sri Lanka (by 82 runs). But a subsequent loss to Australia, coupled with New Zealand’s win over Pakistan, sealed India’s fate, knocking them out before the knockout rounds. All four Asian teams failed to advance, leaving India’s hopes for a World Cup title unfulfilled.
In light of these results, Mithali Raj emphasized the need for a leadership change in an interview with PTI. She believes now is the ideal time for the selectors to act, well ahead of the 2025 ODI World Cup.
“If the selectors decide to change, I would go for a young captain,” Mithali stated. “This is the time to change; if you delay, then the ODI World Cup is too close. Smriti is there, but I think someone like Jemimah Rodrigues, she’s 24, she’s young, she will serve you more.”
Rodrigues has emerged as one of the brightest talents in Indian women’s cricket, making her mark in T20 internationals and various franchise leagues. While her individual performances in the T20 World Cup were modest, her enthusiasm, intent with the bat, and strong rapport with teammates have made her a compelling candidate for leadership.
Smriti Mandhana, another leading figure in Indian cricket, also remains a key contender for the captaincy. Mandhana’s leadership in guiding the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to a title win in the 2024 Women’s Premier League has bolstered her credentials as a possible replacement for Harmanpreet.
As the Indian women’s team looks ahead to future competitions, including the ODI World Cup in 2025, the selectors face a critical decision: whether to continue with Harmanpreet Kaur or to usher in a new era of leadership with players like Rodrigues or Mandhana at the helm.
