Smriti Mandhana has expressed confidence in her ability to lead the Indian women’s cricket team whenever the opportunity arises, stating that she is ready to step in for captain Harmanpreet Kaur if required.
The India vice-captain, who has established herself as one of the team’s most dependable players over the past decade, believes her long tenure as Harmanpreet’s deputy has prepared her well for the responsibilities of captaincy.
“Yes, of course. I am ready,” Mandhana said in an interview with The Times of India when asked whether she was prepared to captain India in Harmanpreet’s absence.
Mandhana’s confidence is supported by an impressive leadership record. The 29-year-old has captained India in 18 T20 Internationals and four One-Day Internationals, winning a combined 15 matches across the two formats. India also remain unbeaten in the four ODIs she has led, reinforcing her credentials as Harmanpreet’s likely successor.
Over the years, Mandhana has grown from being one of India’s premier batters into an experienced leader capable of handling high-pressure situations. As vice-captain, she has accumulated valuable experience in tactical decision-making and team management, regularly taking charge whenever Harmanpreet has been unavailable.
Her remarks come after India’s successful tour of England, highlighted by a landmark victory in the first-ever women’s Test match played at Lord’s.
HISTORIC WIN AT LORD’S
Reflecting on the achievement, Mandhana described India’s victory at the Home of Cricket as a memorable milestone. India defeated England by 270 runs after posting 285 in their first innings and declaring at 341 for seven in the second innings, before dismissing England for 170 and 186.
“It was amazing to be part of the first-ever women’s Test at Lord’s and, more importantly, to win it. Contributing to a historic victory for India was special. As children, we all dreamed of playing Test cricket, so achieving it at Lord’s made it even more memorable,” Mandhana said.
The left-handed opener made significant contributions with the bat, scoring 83 in the first innings before following it up with another half-century in the second, providing India with a strong platform for one of the most significant victories in the history of women’s cricket.
The triumph at Lord’s also provided India with a timely boost after the disappointment of losing the T20I series in England and being eliminated before the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup following a defeat to Australia.
For Mandhana, the victory served as another indication of the progress made by Indian women’s cricket in recent years. With Harmanpreet Kaur continuing to lead the side, India also have the reassurance of an experienced and accomplished deputy ready to assume leadership responsibilities whenever required.
