They say that great players do not necessarily make great leaders, a famous sporting axiom that has tempered expectations when legends take over in their own right. But few blinked when the sport's all-time leading run-scorer in international cricket recently took charge of the Indian women's national team.
As soon as Harmanpreet Kaur passed off the leadership in all formats, the Board of Control for Cricket in India wasted no time naming Mandhana as India's all-format skipper. The shift seemed as natural as runs flowing out of the stylish opener's elegant willow. And while Harmanpreet leaves behind a golden legacy, the timing of this passing of the torch could not be more vital for the future of the Women in Blue.
Breaking Curses and T20 Droughts: Smriti Mandhana's reign
Harmanpreet Kaur leaves behind one of the most successful captaincies in women's cricket history, leading the team to an incredible 126 wins out of 211 matches, and a successful campaign at the 2026 Asian Games. However, the need for change predominantly comes from India's continued hoodoo in the shortest format.
Although 10 editions of the Women's T20 World Cup have passed, India continue to wait on their first title in the format. Disappointingly, the team could not find silverware in the last two editions, reaching the semi-finals not once, but on two separate occasions; despite the WPL infusing fresh faces into the system since 2023.
Mandhana has broken a 15-year-old franchise curse in her second stint as captain of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), guiding them to the first-ever WPL title (and quickly a second). The 30-year-old has pedigree in breaking curses and, with the 2028 Women's T20 World Cup set to arrive in the sun-baked land of India, fans will be hoping she can end the tournament's 25-year wait.
Also read: What Has Happened to Australia's Test Batting? The Alarming Decline Behind the Crisis
The Captaincy Catalyst – Kohli and Rohit's Blueprint
Cricket history will tell you that leadership often comes with a cost – with the burden of captaincy often weighing heavy on the minds of batters, stunting the natural flair they exude. However, for certain individuals, additional responsibilities only serve to bolster their game.
Indian cricket fans will be very much familiar with the exploits of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – two of the Indian cricket team's past and present captains. Whilst Kohli's amazing consistency only grew in tandem with the captaincy, Rohit famously used his leadership role to propel his strike rate into uncharted territory, laying down a benchmark for his teammates.
Mandhana's short stints as captain of the Indian set-up in limited-overs cricket show the perfect blend of the two; rarely has a player's batting record improved so dramatically when donning the armband.
Elevated Win Rates – Mandhana's ability to thrive under pressure is encapsulated best by her captaincy win percentage of over 68%, far and away better than Harmanpreet's 59.71%.
Fearless Freedom – Unlike players who grow timid under the burden of leadership, Mandhana's strike rate and overall consistency skyrocket when at the helm of the side, seeing a unique blend of Kohli's reliability and Rohit's aggression.
A Glimpse into the Future
Kohli and Rohit led India into a golden era for the men's national team, dominating the Test rankings throughout the late 2010s, capturing the ICC white-ball trophy in 2024 and 2025, and finishing runners-up in the World Test Championship in 2021 and 2023. Both legendary batters' excellent captaincy win percentages (68.93% and 73.36%, respectively) stemmed from their own outstanding batting performances while captaining.
With Smriti Mandhana possessing a rare blend of tactical nous and amazing tournament-winning credentials, she now holds the baton for the future of Indian women's cricket. She has arrived – and for the girls' national team, this is a new, exciting dawn.