Former captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, Diana Edulji, is calling for a significant shake-up in leadership after the team’s disappointing exit from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. At the trophy unveiling ceremony for the Maharani Trophy KSCA T20 in Bengaluru on Monday, Edulji suggested that it might be time to consider removing Harmanpreet Kaur as captain in certain formats. She urged the BCCI to rethink the team’s leadership structure, proposing that splitting the captaincy across all three formats could relieve Harmanpreet of some of the pressure she faces. Edulji believes that a new approach is essential for both the team’s success and for Harmanpreet to thrive moving forward.
Edulji believes Harmanpreet’s individual game has suffered because of the responsibility of leading the team for a long period. She said the India captain should be allowed to focus only on her batting again. The former skipper also pointed out, “She used to be a great all-rounder, but then she limited herself to only batting. However, now we see her batting getting affected as well. I believe it’s been too long; we need to allow younger players to lead.”
“I recommend a split captaincy” – Diana Edulji Backs Split Captaincy and New Leadership Options
To inject some fresh energy into the Indian women’s cricket team, Edulji suggested that they should consider having separate captains for Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, rather than relying on a single player to lead in all formats. She pointed out that the men’s team has already adopted this approach, with Shubman Gill at the helm for Tests and ODIs, while Shreyas Iyer takes charge of the T20I squad. Edulji believes that, “I recommend a split captaincy. Even a system with three different coaches would benefit us. It’s very important to bring in fresh ideas and get out of our comfort zone.”
Additionally, Edulji proposed a tailored coaching structure for each format instead of having one head coach oversee everything. Currently, Amol Mazumdar manages the women’s team across all formats, but she feels that having dedicated coaches for each would introduce fresh tactical insights and help the team break free from their usual patterns. She emphasized that each format requires distinct planning and preparation, making specialized coaching a real asset.
Looking to the future, Edulji sees Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma as the top contenders to lead India. She believes both opening batters possess the skill and mindset needed to captain the national team for years to come. Her thoughts align with those of former India captain Mithali Raj, who has also endorsed this duo as potential leaders. Edulji urged the BCCI to start grooming the next generation of captains now, arguing that an early transition would not only strengthen the team dynamic but also set the stage for future success.
