New Delhi, October 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s newly appointed women’s cricket captain Smriti Mandhana believes her nearly decade-long experience as vice-captain will help her transition smoothly into full-time leadership, insisting that the added responsibility will not change her batting approach.
Mandhana was appointed captain of India’s women’s team earlier this month after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the role. The 29-year-old, who has represented India since 2013, will lead the team in white-ball cricket.
“I have been the vice-captain for the last almost 10 years. So, I have been part of the leadership role, and I wouldn’t say it is an extremely new thing. But for sure, it is something to look forward to, and hopefully, I can do justice to the role,” Mandhana told reporters on Wednesday.
The left-handed opener said she would continue to trust her instincts at the crease and adapt her game to the team’s requirements rather than allow captaincy to influence her natural style.
“I have become a captain on the field; there should be no changes in my batting,” she said, recalling advice from a coach she received at the age of 15 to approach every innings with a captain’s sense of responsibility.
“If the ball is in the zone, I will still go for it. I will still play whatever (way) the team needs,” she added.
Mandhana also described India’s upcoming bilateral T20I series against Zimbabwe as an exciting opportunity, noting that the team could learn from its opponents while preparing for the challenges ahead.
She said India would use the six T20 matches before the Champions Trophy to establish clear standards and define its approach for the coming months.
Mandhana enters her leadership tenure after an impressive run in international cricket. She finished as the second-highest run-scorer at the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, scoring 434 runs. In June 2025, she also became the first Indian woman to score international centuries in all three formats after registering a T20I hundred against England.
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