T20 Women's WC: India looks beyond Harmanpreet after team's poor show

After a disappointing end to the T20 World Cup campaign, Indian women’s cricket is at a pivotal moment. Much was expected of the Indian Eves, but they couldn’t even qualify for the semis and lost in the league stage.

The early exit has meant that the BCCI is now under pressure to reassess Harmanpreet’s role, particularly as the T20 format has not yielded the expected results under her captaincy, since she took over in 2017. With little turnaround time for the next series against New Zealand, Harmanpreet’s captaincy has been reaffirmed in the 50-over format. But whispers of leadership change for the T20 side are growing louder, with Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues being tipped as frontrunners.

No ICC title yet

With the dream of replicating the men’s T20 World Cup triumph shattered, it is worth noting that the Indian Women’s team is yet to win any ICC title. But this World Cup marked a new low as Indian women failed to reach the semis for the first time since the 2016 T20 World Cup. With an ODI World Cup at home slated next year and a T20 World Cup looming in 2026, experts feel the team needs a new direction under a new leader who can galvanise its young talents.

Also Read: Women's T20 World Cup: South Africa stun mighty Australia to enter final

While her own batting performance was top-notch, Harmanpreet’s captaincy left much to be desired in the T20 World Cup. Besides, a lack of strategy in most matches and the lack of confidence in the team was glaring. India lost to New Zealand in the opening match by a humongous margin of 58 runs which set them back in terms of the Net Run-Rate (NRR). In the next match, India beat arch-rivals Pakistan but they couldn’t manage to close the match quickly needing just 106 to win.

Struggling with No. 3

India won their next match against Sri Lanka comprehensively, perhaps the only game that the team played to full potential. But in a must-win match against Australia, lack of role clarity became obvious. In recent times, the Indian team has often struggled for consistency at the number 3 batting position, and the T20 World Cup was no different. Since the start of the year, the team has shuffled through six different batters for the crucial spot.

Heading into the tournament, it was decided that Jemimah Rodrigues, one of the team’s most reliable middle-order batters, would play lower down the order, while the skipper would bat at number 3. However, after a disappointing loss in their opening game against the Kiwis, the batting order was reshuffled yet again. Jemimah found herself back at number 3 and then got out cheaply against Australia in a crunch situation when she could have been more destructive down the order.

Another example of this disarray occurred during the closing stages of the match. With India needing 13 runs to win off the last six balls, Harmanpreet, as the team’s last hope, chose to take a single and pass the strike to Shreyanka Patil, a low-ranked batter who had just walked in. This decision placed huge pressure on Patil, who had to suddenly hit 2 sixes of 2 balls to win the game, a tall order for even an experienced player, let alone a newcomer. While the odds of winning were slim, Harmanpreet’s reluctance to take risks, despite being the set batter, not only sealed India’s fate but was a poor decision that invited all-round criticism.

Top contenders

As Harmanpreet’s T20 future hangs in the balance, two prominent names have emerged as potential successors – Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues. Mandhana, the stylish southpaw and current vice-captain, seems the natural choice to many. Her aggressive batting, combined with a calm, composed demeanour on the field, has made Mandhana a pivotal figure in the Indian setup. Her leadership qualities were on display while captaining the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the WPL and winning the title this year.

Also Read: Women’s T20 WC: India lose to Australia by 9 runs; semis spot depends on NZ-Pak match

Mandhana’s own batting form in the T20 World Cup, however, is under scrutiny. Against Australia, she managed just 6 of 12 balls when India needed more than 7 an over. Her recent batting performance has been a let-down but there’s no doubt that she commands strong respect in the group and this World Cup was only a blip in her prolific career.

The other contender – Jemimah Rodrigues, a rising star of Indian cricket, has garnered support from none other than former Indian captain Mithali Raj. India’s joint-top run-scorer in Women’s T20 World Cups, Mithali recently voiced her opinion that Rodrigues would be a better fit for leadership than Mandhana. Mithali claims Jemimah’s sharp cricketing mind, consistency in the middle order, and her youthful energy make her an exciting candidate for T20 captaincy. Mithali asserts that while Mandhana brings experience, Jemimah could offer a long-term solution and she argues that now is the perfect time for a transition in captaincy.

Rodrigues has played 104 T20Is since her debut in 2018, scoring 2,142 runs and performing consistently in high-pressure situations. Her ability to inspire teammates, along with her aggressive yet measured approach to batting, makes her a formidable candidate to lead India in the T20 format.

Crucial ODI series

As Harmanpreet leads India in the upcoming ODI series, her performance will be critical in determining her immediate future as captain. A successful series could help her retain the ODI captaincy and could possibly ease some of the scrutiny around her leadership. But the BCCI’s gaze remains firmly on the T20 format, where her captaincy is under the scanner.

An important factor that may work in Harmanpreet’s case is that if she’s removed from captaincy, she will have more time to focus on her batting. She is the premier batswoman of the side and her being in full flow will be a defining factor for India to do well in upcoming ICC events. Anjum Chopra, another former captain, argues that Harmanpreet is still the best person to lead the side. She believes the team must establish a clear template for playing ODIs, especially given that they have played fewer ODIs than their counterparts in the current ICC Women’s ODI Championship cycle. This perspective highlights the delicate balance the BCCI must strike between continuity and change.

Also Read: Women's T20 World Cup: India beat Pakistan, keep semis hopes alive

Fresh leadership

Since becoming India’s T20I captain in 2017, Harmanpreet has led the team through several highs and lows. Under her leadership, the team reached the semi-finals of the 2018 and 2020 T20 World Cups, and she has largely shaped the team’s current core. However, 2024 marks the first time that India has failed to make it past the group stage of a T20 World Cup under her captaincy, generating a huge buzz that a change at the top is now essential.

Harmanpreet’s contributions to Indian cricket, particularly in the ODI and Test formats, remain unquestionable. She is still a pillar of strength for the team, leading from the front with the bat. But with an ODI World Cup at home in 2025 and the next T20 World Cup scheduled for 2026 in England, there is growing consensus that the T20 side needs fresh leadership. For now, the future of Indian women’s T20 cricket hangs in the balance, with the hope that a new direction under a new leader will lead the team to greater success on the world stage.