Harmanpreet Kaur has been the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team for some time now and has led them admirably well. She is a world cup winner. However, with the rise of Smriti Mandhana as a strong captaincy candidate on the back of two WPL titles, the question of a change at the top is beginning to gain momentum.
There is a time to take charge and there is a time to pass the baton. For Indian women’s cricket, that conversation may no longer be a distant one.
As India prepare to face Sri Lanka in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final on Sunday (September 13) in Dubai, the focus is naturally on winning a record-extending eighth title.
But alongside that, a larger question is beginning to emerge: Is it time for Mandhana to take over as India’s captain
from Harmanpreet?
Harmanpreet has been at the centre of India’s leadership group for years. She has led the team to a historic ODI World Cup title in 2025 and remains one of its most experienced players.
But leadership transitions are often best made when the outgoing captain is still at the top of her game and the potential successor is ready to step in.
Former India cricketer Vivek Razdan believes that moment could be approaching.
“Certainly, that time will come. It is not something you have to discover; it is obvious. It depends a bit on Harmanpreet. When you are playing your best cricket as captain and as a team, that is the best time to pass the baton,” Razdan said on Saturday.
“Smriti has shown she is capable. In the WPL, she captained RCB and won the title. She plays good cricket and her captaincy role has been good. So yes, the time has come to think about it seriously. But first, Harmanpreet has to decide,” he added.
That last part of Razdan’s answer is crucial. This is not necessarily a call for Harmanpreet to be pushed out. Rather, it is about whether she should decide when the transition happens and allow India to begin the next chapter with Mandhana at the helm.
But before that conversation moves any further, India have a final to win, after they failed to do so in the last edition.
Sri Lanka have already shown during this year’s Asia Cup that they cannot be taken lightly. Their comeback victory over Pakistan on Friday in the second semi-final showed the depth in their batting and their ability to chase down a difficult target even without their legendary captain Chamari Athapaththu.
“India are a strong team, but you cannot take Sri Lanka lightly, especially after how they beat Pakistan. Sri Lanka recovered from a poor position and chased a target. Their batting has depth,” Razdan said.
India’s bowling attack gives them an obvious advantage. Sree Charani, Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma have provided different dimensions to the attack, but Razdan feels the key to the final could actually lie in how India approach the first six overs with the bat.
“India’s bowling looks strong—Sree Charani, Shafali, Deepti. But India must work on powerplay batting,” he said.
“Smriti Mandhana’s long innings is very important. Sometimes Smriti tries to play like Shafali, but that is not her game. If India do not lose wickets in the first six overs, they can score big. The top four have to perform,” he added.
And when it comes to picking India’s most important player for the final, Razdan’s choice is straightforward.
“If India want to win the final, my key player is Smriti Mandhana,” he said.
Watch India tour of Afghanistan 2026 – Afghanistan vs India – 1st T20 on September 13, 2026, from 7:30 PM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD.
