In a strong endorsement of the current leadership structure, former Indian women's cricket captain Shantha Rangaswamy has thrown her weight behind Harmanpreet Kaur's continued captaincy while firmly establishing Smriti Mandhana as the undeniable vice-captaincy choice.
Backing the Captain Through Tough Times
Despite India's recent disappointing performances, including their failure to qualify for the T20 World Cup semi-finals and a silver medal at the Asian Games, Rangaswamy believes changing leadership would be premature. "One or two failures shouldn't dictate captaincy changes," the former skipper asserted, emphasizing the need for stability in team management.
Rangaswamy pointed to Harmanpreet's overall track record, noting that "she has done extremely well as captain apart from the last two events." This perspective comes as a significant vote of confidence for the embattled captain during what many consider a challenging phase in her leadership career.
Mandhana: The Undisputed Deputy
The cricket veteran left no room for ambiguity when discussing the vice-captaincy position. "Smriti Mandhana is an automatic choice as vice-captain," Rangaswamy declared, highlighting the opening batter's seniority and consistent performance.
Her comments effectively shut down any speculation about alternative leadership combinations, reinforcing Mandhana's established role as second-in-command within the team hierarchy. This clarification comes at a crucial time when the team is looking to rebuild and restructure after recent disappointments.
Looking Toward the Future
Rangaswamy's statements carry significant weight given her pioneering role in Indian women's cricket and her current position as a member of the BCCI's Apex Council. Her perspective suggests that the cricket administration favors continuity over radical changes, preferring to trust the existing leadership to learn from recent setbacks.
This endorsement likely signals the board's thinking as the women's team prepares for future international commitments, with the current captain-vice captain combination expected to remain intact despite external pressure for changes following subpar tournament results.
