BCCI president Mithun Manhas believes Harmanpreet Kaur’s experience will be important as Smriti Mandhana takes charge of the Indian women’s cricket team. He feels that having an experienced player around to offer guidance can make the transition easier for a new captain.
Manhas drew a comparison with Indian men’s cricket, where former captains continued to support their successors even after stepping down from leadership roles. He hopes to see a similar understanding between Harmanpreet and Mandhana.
“I have always believed that the baton should be passed on when you have somebody senior around to guide them. Because captaincy isn’t easy, no matter how experienced you are,” Manhas told Sportstar.
Manhas Draws Parallel With Dhoni-Kohli Captaincy Transition
The BCCI president pointed to the way senior players have helped their successors in the Indian men’s team over the years.
Sourav Ganguly continued to guide MS Dhoni after handing over the captaincy. Dhoni, in turn, remained a key source of support for Virat Kohli when he became captain. He often helped Kohli with field placements, bowling changes and DRS decisions.
A similar pattern continued when Rohit Sharma took charge, while Shubman Gill is now carrying forward the leadership transition in Indian cricket.
Manhas believes this approach has benefited the team over the years.
“This transformation has helped Indian cricket in a big way,” he said.
Harmanpreet Can Be A Big Support For Mandhana
Manhas also explained why having a senior player around can help a captain deal with difficult situations. According to him, even experienced leaders can sometimes struggle to make decisions, and guidance from someone who has handled similar situations can prove valuable.
“There will be situations when you have to make decisions and you are confused. So, I think Harmanpreet will be an asset for Smriti,” Manhas added.
When asked about the reasons behind Mandhana’s appointment, Manhas did not go into the selection process. Instead, he focused on the support available to the new captain as she prepares to take on the responsibility.
Smriti Mandhana Set For First Assignment As Captain
Mandhana has been Harmanpreet’s deputy for much of her international career. She has also gained leadership experience at the domestic level, captaining Maharashtra and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League.
At the international level, Mandhana has led India in four ODIs and 18 T20Is.
Her first assignment as captain will be India’s limited-overs tour of Zimbabwe. The tour will begin with a three-match T20I series in Raipur from Friday.
Mandhana was also part of the selection meeting chaired by Amita Sharma last week to finalise India’s squad for the tour.
