Potential Captain Change on the Cards for Indian Women's Cricket Team: BCCI Considering Replacing Harmanpreet Kaur after T20 World Cup Disappointment

After a disappointing performance, reports have surfaced that the BCCI and the team management are considering replacing Harmanpreet Kaur as captain in order to focus on the team's future. Head coach Amol Mazumdar is scheduled to hold meetings with BCCI officials and the selection committee to strategize the way forward for the women's team, as per The Indian Express.

“The BCCI will certainly discuss whether to have a new captain on board going ahead,” said a source quoted in the report. “The Indian board has provided everything the team wanted, and we feel it’s high time a new face led the team in the future.”

The meeting between Mazumdar and officials is meant to take place before the series against New Zealand, which begins on October 24. It remains unclear whether any change would be taken with immediate effect, or whether Kaur will remain in charge in this series.

Kaur has been in charge of the Indian team since her appointment in 2016. While the unit has become a regular fixture late in tournaments, including a handful of appearances in finals, the team management will be considering a reset ahead of the crucial home ODI World Cup in 2025.

“Harmanpreet will continue to be an important member of the team but the BCCI feels it’s time for transition,” commented the source. Kaur had a solid performance on an individual level in the World Cup with bat.

The likely alternative for captaincy is current vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who also has leadership experience having led Royal Challengers Bangalore to the WPL title in 2024. Mandhana has also led India in the past when Harmanpreet Kaur has been unavailable for the national team.

A captaincy refresh might help India overcome the biggest hurdles in crucial knockout matches, which are against a team that has shown consistent improvement across formats in recent years.