When asked if she would be open to serving as the Indian women’s cricket team’s captain in any capacity, Smriti Mandhana gave a positive response amid discussions of a leadership transition. The vice captain stated this in a recent interview, demonstrating her steadfast determination to accept the role whenever the opportunity arises.
Smriti Mandhana scored 83 in India’s first innings and 70 in the second, helping the team win by 270 runs—India’s fourth-highest margin of victory by runs in women’s Tests—in the inaugural women’s Test at Lord’s. She became the youngest woman in cricket history to reach 300 international matches at the age of 29. “Yes, of course. When directly questioned about her preparedness for the captaincy, Mandhana told TOI, “I’m ready. For me, creating a positive team culture is most important.” It should be easy for each athlete to express themselves and be authentic. She went on to explain her clear leadership style, saying, “People tend to perform better when they feel valued and trusted.”
What does the leadership style of Smriti Mandhana include?
The RCB captain, who guided her side to WPL wins in 2024 and 2026, has shaped her perspective via her leadership experience in the league. Regarding India’s recent T20 tournament losses, Smriti Mandhana said, “It’s important to introspect and learn from mistakes.” Unfortunately, we have continued to make the same mistakes because we haven’t learned enough from them. Until the 2028 T20 World Cup, we must have a clear plan for how we want to handle the format and what we must do as a squad,” she stated.
Women’s cricket matches will be held in Japan from September 17–22, according to the Asian Games 2026 cricket calendar. After their Lord’s win, this will be the Indian women’s next opportunity to shine on the continental arena. Smriti will be the vice-captain, and Harmanpreet Kaur will be the chief wrecker for the Indian contingent.
