Replace Harmanpreet Kaur with 'younger captain', Mithali Raj picks this young batter over Smriti Mandhana as new leader

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Harmanpreet Kaur's captaincy has come under scrutiny after India's elimination from the Women's T20 World Cup 2024, with former skipper Mithali Raj calling for her removal and replacement by a younger leader.

In an interview with PTI, former India Women captain Mithali Raj suggested that Team India needs a new leadership to rejuvenate the team, with the team failing to build upon past achievements under Harmanpreet's captaincy.

"If the selectors decide to change, I would go for a young captain," Mithali said in the interview. "This is the time (to change)."

However, Raj warned the BCCI of dragging its feet on the decision, warning against any last-minute changes before the World Cup next year, "If you delay more, then we have another World Cup on the horizon," she said. "If you are not doing now, then don't do it later. Then it is too close to the World Cup."

Mithali Raj hails Jemimah Rodrigues as Harmanpreet Kaur's successor as captain

It was Mithali Raj who handed over the captaincy to Harmanpreet Kaur, who was made the skipper in 2016. Since then, India Women have played four T20 World Cups, reaching two semi-finals and one final, but are yet to win any silverware.

Looking at the team's stagnation, Mithali Raj proposed that Harmanpreet Kaur should be replaced by a younger cricketer, naming 24-year-old Jemimah Rodrigues as one who could step into that role.

"I think someone like Jemima, she's 24, she's young, she will serve you more," the former captain said. "And someone who I feel on the field gets that energy. She speaks to everybody. I was very impressed by her in this tournament."

"Despite playing those cameo roles, she (Jemimah) never could convert her starts. But (she is) someone who really made an effort to build momentum if there was no momentum, and if there was momentum, she tried to carry that momentum," she added.

Reflecting on India's recent performances, particularly their early exit from the Women's T20 World Cup, Mithali pointed to a combination of factors including a lack of adaptability to slow UAE pitches, unclear roles within the batting line-up, and inconsistent fielding.

"I feel that in the last two-three years, I've not really seen any growth in this team," Mithali lamented. "In the sense that beating the best side is what you always prepare for, but it seems like we are saturated... Every other team has shown growth despite limited depth... We have not."

Fans will have to wait and watch if the concerns aired by Mithali Raj are acted upon by the BCCI, especially with the Women's Cricket World Cup scheduled for October 2025. The team, which has flattered to deceive in every tournament despite going in as favourites, will look to break their international trophy duck with a better performance in next year's ODI World Cup.