BCCI names Smriti Mandhana India women's captain across all three formats
Mandhana, who was vice-captain, takes charge a day after Harmanpreet Kaur resigned the captaincy of all formats.
Images are not validated/verified
The Indian women's cricket team has a new captain. The BCCI has handed Smriti Mandhana the leadership of Team India. She will now captain India in all three formats. Mandhana has earlier captained India in different formats as well.
The decision comes after Harmanpreet Kaur resigned as captain of all three formats. Discussion on who would now lead the Indian women's team began soon after her resignation. The BCCI's announcement has answered that question.
Mandhana had so far been serving as the team's vice-captain. Considering her contribution to Indian women's cricket, the BCCI has given her this new responsibility. Besides international cricket, she has also proved her captaincy in domestic franchise cricket. Under her captaincy, Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the 2024 Women's Premier League title.
In an official statement issued on Tuesday, the BCCI said Mandhana has been an important part of the Indian team since 2013 and has a great deal of experience for the new role. According to the statement, the Indian women's cricket team is entering a new phase. The responsibility of taking the progress of the past few years to greater heights and moving the team forward will now rest with her.
On being named captain, Mandhana said that getting the chance to lead the Indian team is a very big and special honour for her. She said representing India has always been extremely precious to her, and the honour of captaining the team will be just as important. She thanked the selection committee, all her teammates and everyone who has supported her consistently for the trust shown in her.
Harmanpreet Kaur announced on Tuesday that she was stepping down as captain in all formats. She took the decision just a day after the review meeting of the Indian cricket board, which caused a stir in the cricket world. Harmanpreet is counted among the most successful captains in the history of Indian women's cricket. Under her captaincy, the Indian women's team made history last year by winning the Women's ODI World Cup for the first time.
