For a side that put up one of the all-time performances in 2018, when they managed to save their campaign till the final match, Harmanpreet Kaur’s exit as captain after India’s disastrous group-stage exit from the Women’s T20 World Cup is unthinkable in the perception of former skipper Mithali Raj, who says it’s “high time” to hand over the driving seat with fresh shoulders.

Harmanpreet Kaur has captained India through four T20 World Cups since the change in 2016, although the latest outing remains the worst outing for the team ever Indians failed to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time.

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If the selectors decide to change, I will be for a young captain, said Raj in an interview with PTI. It is now; delaying this decision might affect our preparation for ODI World Cup in October 2025. If you don’t act now, it might be too late.

However, Raj highlighted Smriti Mandhana as a future successor and then upped the ante by suggesting Jemimah Rodrigues, 24. She has enough youthfulness and skillsets that make her different in leadership qualities in the field. “She has shown great potential in this tournament,” Raj noted.

Adaptability And Growth Issues

Speaking of the factors contributing to the drab India performance, one very crucial point is that India was not adjusting to slow wickets. Other teams like Australia and New Zealand had competitive matches coming into this tournament. “We took too long to adjust,” she said.

The bigger picture, Raj considered the stagnation of the team for the past three years. “We have become too used to winning against weaker teams and lack the development to handle a better team,” she said.

Tactical Issues

Raj also criticized the team management and its strategies conducted before the World Cup, especially during the Asia Cup. She thought there was not enough preparation. Players were not provided with the scope to raise their game. “It didn’t seem they were preparing for the World Cup; it seemed only targeting for the Asia Cup,” she said.

Fitness And Fielding Standards

The other was a concern area – the fit levels of players, which in turn contributed to crucial dropped catches in key matches. “Against Australia, I was disappointed with the fielding; only a couple of players seemed up to par,” she said. “We need to establish a fitness benchmark and maintain it throughout the year, not just before a tournament.”

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