Photo via Hindustan Times

Smriti Mandhana becoming India's captain ‘dependent’ on Harmanpreet Kaur: ‘She needs to take the first step’

Ahead of the Women's Asia Cup 2026 title decider against Sri Lanka, dialogue around India's leadership transition has intensified even as the squad remains unbeaten across the eight-nation competition. Standout batter Smriti Mandhana, who has accumulated 154 runs across four fixtures including a top score of 124 versus Hong Kong, China, recently overtook Mithali Raj for the most runs scored in women's international cricket and broke Meg Lanning's record for total centuries.

While Mandhana has already guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to two Women's Premier League titles, Harmanpreet Kaur—who has posted 57 runs this tournament—maintains the national captaincy. Former players including Diana Edulji have advocated for promoting Mandhana from her long-standing vice-captain post, while former national seamer Vivek Razdan suggested that handing over the reins ultimately hinges on Harmanpreet deciding to initiate the transition while the side is thriving.