After a disappointing exit from the league stage in the ongoing International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s T20 World Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to take a call on whether team India needs a new captain.
India will play a three-match ODI series against New Zealand from October 24 in Ahmedabad and it is known that before the squad for this assignment is picked, a meeting will take place among BCCI, national selectors, and head coach Amol Muzumdar to discuss whether Harmanpreet Kaur will continue as the captain of Indian women’s cricket team.
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New Zealand will tour India for 3 ODIs 🏏#CricketTwitter via Cricbuzz pic.twitter.com/TEWke50lI2
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Interestingly, Harmanpreet took over the reins of India’s T20 side in 2016 from Mithali Raj, after the team did not qualify for the semi-finals of the home T20 World Cup. Since then, India have played four T20 World Cups under the leadership of Harmanpreet and made it to the semi-finals twice (2018 and 2023) and to the final once (in 2020). However, this time, India were knocked out in the league stage itself.
In the pre-departure (to UAE) press conference in Mumbai, Harmanpreet had said, “If I talk about this team, we have a few players who have been playing for a long time and they know their roles really well.” She added, “I can say that this is the best team we are going for a T20 World Cup with.” Quite contrary to what Harmanpreet expected from her team, her troops failed to take the responsibility and could not deliver the required goods in this marquee tournament.
BCCI will discuss leadership changes with the selection committee and head coach Amol Muzumdar.
Source: The Indian Express.#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/ZLoLczDs2g
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 16, 2024
The 35-year-old Indian captain did her best in this T20 World Cup as she top-scored for her side with 150 runs in four matches at an average of 150 and strike rate of 134. She struck scintillating half-centuries in her last two matches and remained unbeaten in three games. With this kind of performance, there is seldom any doubt that Harmanpreet will retain her place in the side. But the important question is: Will she continue to be the captain?
The BCCI and the team management could be tempted to look at a few young faces in the current squad, who have had the experience of playing global franchise cricket leagues and also the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in India. One of the names that comes to mind is that of Jemimah Rodrigues.
Former India captain Mithali Raj also shared that the Mumbai girl could be the next captain of India. Though Smriti Mandhana, 28, has been the vice-captain, Raj preferred a younger Rodrigues over a senior Mandhana. Raj told PTI, “Smriti [Mandhana, the vice-captain since 2016] is there but I think someone like Jemimah [Rodrigues], she’s 24, she’s young, she will serve you more. And [she] is someone who I feel on the field gets that energy. She speaks to everybody. I was very impressed by her in this tournament [T20 World Cup 2024].”
🗣 Former India captain Mithali Raj when asked if the selectors should move on from Harmanpreet Kaur and appoint someone younger? #CricketTwitter #T20WorldCup Source: PTI pic.twitter.com/o1pSoOkKX4
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 16, 2024
With the 50-over World Cup coming up in India next year, Indian team is likely to look for a transition. And the possibility of change of guard in terms of team’s leadership cannot be ruled out.
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