Former India captain Mithali Raj believes the Indian team delayed Smriti Mandhana's elevation to captaincy, saying the star opener should have taken charge of the ODI side "two-three years back." Raj's remarks come just days after Mandhana publicly admitted that she is ready to lead India if the opportunity arises, adding fresh momentum to the ongoing debate surrounding the national team's leadership.
Raj, who had a well-documented fallout with current skipper Harmanpreet Kaur during the 2018 Women's T20 World Cup, also suggested that India should now look toward a long-term leadership transition across formats.
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Mithali Raj backs Mandhana for ODI and Test captaincy
Speaking to PTI, Raj said Mandhana possesses enough experience to lead India's ODI and Test sides and insisted it was not too late to hand her the responsibility.
"I at least thought Smriti would lead the ODI format two-three years back," Raj told PTI. "But now also, with the vast experience that she has at least the one-day and Test format should be given to her and perhaps the T20 to someone younger."
Raj further stated that Smriti Mandhana should now be entrusted with the leadership of the 50-over and Test teams, while suggesting India could consider a younger captain for T20Is.
She named Shafali Verma as a strong candidate, pointing to her successful stint as India's Under-19 Women's World Cup-winning captain in 2023. Raj also mentioned Jemimah Rodrigues as another leadership option but stressed that whoever is chosen should be given enough time to settle into the role rather than being judged over a short period.
Raj explains why India should move on from Harmanpreet
While advocating a leadership change, Raj clarified that India's failure to reach the semi-finals in consecutive Women's T20 World Cups should not be viewed as the sole reason behind replacing Harmanpreet.
Instead, she highlighted three key factors that selectors should evaluate while planning for the future — the captain's fitness, consistent form in major tournaments and whether the player fits into the team's plans for the next World Cup cycle.
Raj pointed out that Harmanpreet Kaur has struggled with recurring fitness issues over the past few years and has often required medical attention during matches. She also noted a pattern in the captain's performances across recent ICC events, where substantial contributions have come only after multiple games.
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The former skipper also criticised the lack of succession planning in Indian women's cricket, arguing that the selectors have failed to groom future leaders despite having promising candidates available. According to Raj, India needs a clear long-term roadmap rather than making leadership decisions on a series-to-series basis as the team prepares for its next generation.