BCCI president Mithun Manhas has compared India's women's cricket captaincy transition to previous leadership changes involving MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. He believes Harmanpreet Kaur's experience can help new captain Smriti Mandhana as she takes charge of the Indian women's team.
BCCI president Mithun Manhas has shared his views on India's women's cricket captaincy transition, drawing a comparison with earlier leadership changes involving MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. He believes experienced players can play an important role in helping a new captain settle into the job.
Smriti Mandhana has taken over as India's full-time captain across formats, replacing Harmanpreet Kaur. Manhas believes Harmanpreet's experience will be valuable as Mandhana begins her new leadership role.
Speaking to Sportstar, the BCCI president explained why a senior player remaining part of the team can make a difference during a captaincy transition.
Mithun Manhas Draws a Dhoni-Kohli Comparison
Manhas pointed to India's previous captaincy transitions to explain his approach to leadership changes. He recalled how senior players remained around to support their successors, helping the team maintain continuity during important transitions.
Sourav Ganguly remained involved in Indian cricket after stepping down as captain, while MS Dhoni was part of the team when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma took on leadership responsibilities.
According to Manhas, this approach helped Indian cricket during different phases of its development. He believes a similar arrangement can benefit the Indian women's team as Smriti Mandhana takes over the captaincy.
Why Harmanpreet Kaur Can Help Smriti Mandhana
Harmanpreet Kaur has considerable experience leading the Indian women's team in international cricket. Her knowledge of the players, match situations and pressures of captaincy could be useful to Mandhana.
Manhas believes captaincy can be challenging, even for experienced international cricketers. Having a senior player available to discuss difficult decisions can provide valuable support to a new captain.
He described Harmanpreet as an asset for Smriti, highlighting the importance of guidance during situations when a captain needs to make difficult decisions.
The approach also allows the team to benefit from Harmanpreet's experience while Mandhana develops her own leadership style.
Smriti Mandhana Takes Charge of India's Women's Team
Smriti Mandhana is one of India's leading batters and has also gained leadership experience in domestic and franchise cricket.
Taking charge of the national team brings additional responsibilities, including tactical decisions, managing players and responding to pressure during international matches.
Manhas focused on the support system around Mandhana when discussing her appointment. He did not directly explain the selection process but emphasised the importance of having experienced players available to guide the new captain.
This suggests that the transition is not simply about changing the captain. It is also about maintaining experience and stability within the team.
How Experienced Players Support New Captains
Captaincy changes are a regular part of international cricket. When a new leader takes over, experienced teammates can help maintain continuity and share knowledge gained from previous matches and tournaments.
India's men's team has experienced several leadership transitions involving Ganguly, Dhoni, Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Manhas referred to these examples to explain why experienced players can remain important even after handing over the captaincy.
For the women's team, Harmanpreet's continued presence could help Mandhana understand the demands of leading India across formats.
At the same time, Mandhana will need to make her own decisions and establish a leadership approach suited to the team's needs.
What This Captaincy Change Means for Indian Women's Cricket
The appointment of Smriti Mandhana marks a new phase for the Indian women's team. She will have the responsibility of leading the side while building on the experience gained under Harmanpreet Kaur.
A smooth transition could help the team balance new ideas with lessons learned from previous campaigns. Experienced players can contribute by sharing advice, supporting younger teammates and helping the captain manage difficult situations.
However, the team's results will ultimately depend on performances on the field, preparation and decisions made during matches.
Manhas's comments underline the value of continuity and mentorship as India moves into its next phase of women's cricket leadership.
Conclusion
BCCI president Mithun Manhas believes Harmanpreet Kaur's experience can help Smriti Mandhana as she takes over India's women's captaincy. By comparing the transition with previous changes involving MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, he highlighted the importance of experienced players supporting new leaders.
The captaincy change gives Mandhana an opportunity to establish her leadership while continuing to benefit from the knowledge of senior teammates. How this partnership develops will be an important storyline for Indian women's cricket.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is India's new women's cricket captain?
Smriti Mandhana has taken over as India's full-time captain across formats, replacing Harmanpreet Kaur.
2. What did Mithun Manhas say about Harmanpreet Kaur?
The BCCI president said Harmanpreet's experience could be valuable in guiding Smriti Mandhana during the captaincy transition.
3. Why did Mithun Manhas mention MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli?
He used previous leadership transitions in the men's team to explain how experienced players can support new captains.
4. How can Harmanpreet Kaur help Smriti Mandhana?
Her international experience and understanding of match situations could help Mandhana when she faces difficult decisions as captain.
5. What is the main message behind the captaincy transition?
Manhas emphasised continuity, mentorship and the importance of keeping experienced players involved when new leaders take charge.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. Captaincy decisions and team arrangements may change. Readers should refer to official BCCI announcements and reliable cricket news sources for the latest updates.
