Shantha Rangaswamy Urges Harmanpreet Kaur to Relinquish Captaincy for Team India’s Future

A day after India’s groundbreaking triumph in the Women’s ODI World Cup, former captain Shantha Rangaswamy has expressed a rather pragmatic opinion; she believes Harmanpreet Kaur should step down from the captaincy for the greater good of Indian cricket. Although the timing might seem stringent, Rangaswamy feels the decision is “long overdue.”

In a conversation with PTI, the former skipper emphasized that relinquishing the leadership role would be a rejuvenating move for the 36-year-old Harmanpreet, who continues to be indispensable as a batter and a dynamic fielder. According to her, such a transition must be viewed through the prism of the team’s long-term sustainability, with the next ODI World Cup set for 2029 and the T20 edition in the UK next year.

Rangaswamy identified star opener Smriti Mandhana, 29, as the natural successor to the captaincy mantle. “It’s overdue. Because Harman, as a batter and a fielder, is brilliant. Yes. But tactically, she can fumble at times. I feel she can contribute more if she's without the burden of captaincy. See, when it comes after a success like this (World Cup win), it will not be taken well. But in the interest of Indian cricket and in Harman's own interest, I think she can contribute much more as a batter without the burden of captaincy,” she asserted.

Rangaswamy added that Harmanpreet still has “three to four years of big-time cricket left,” and stepping aside as captain could extend her prolific run. She also advocated for Mandhana’s leadership “across formats” to build continuity for upcoming tournaments.

Drawing a parallel, Rangaswamy mentioned Rohit Sharma’s scenario, where selectors transitioned beyond him despite his Champions Trophy earlier this year, underscoring that decisions for team evolution often require emotional detachment.

While praising India’s exceptional title-winning campaign at home, Rangaswamy pointed out areas needing recalibration. “In our days, batting used to be the weaker link. Now batting has a settled look, but bowling is a concern. Fielding too can be a lot better. Australia lost only because they did not have a good bowling attack. I would say Pakistan and Bangladesh had better bowling attacks. The batters did the job for us,” she remarked, referencing India’s semifinal triumph over seven-time champions Australia.

Reflecting on the sport’s growth, Rangaswamy predicted a “tenfold surge” in women’s cricket participation post this historic win. “Ten years down the line, you will see the massive impact of this win. This will inspire millions to take up the sport,” she envisioned. She also applauded outgoing chief selector Neetu David and her team for architecting a championship-worthy squad.