India’s recent ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 victory has sparked a fascinating debate: is it time for a change in leadership? Just a day after the historic win, cricket legend Shantha Rangaswamy has openly called for a transition, advocating for Harmanpreet Kaur to step down from the captaincy.
Rangaswamy believes that relieving Kaur, 36, of her captaincy duties would unlock her full potential as an exceptional batter and fielder, making her an even more invaluable asset to the team. “It’s overdue. Because Harman as a batter and a fielder is brilliant. Yes. But tactically, she can fumble at times. I feel she can contribute more if she’s without the burden of captaincy,” Rangaswamy stated in an interview with PTI.
Looking ahead to the 2029 ODI World Cup and next year’s T20 World Cup in the UK, Rangaswamy emphasized the importance of strategic future planning. She strongly endorsed Smriti Mandhana, 29, as the natural and ideal successor to lead India across all formats. “She still has three-four years of big-time cricket left. Not being captain would allow her to do that. Smriti should be made captain across formats. You need to plan for future World Cups also,” Rangaswamy asserted. She drew a parallel to the men’s team, noting how selectors moved on from Rohit Sharma after his Champions Trophy win, underscoring the necessity of forward-thinking decisions over resting on past laurels.
Bowling Still a Concern: Areas India Must Address
Despite the euphoria of the World Cup win, Rangaswamy highlighted existing vulnerabilities, particularly in the bowling department. She observed, “In our days batting used to be the weaker link. Now batting has a settled look but bowling is a concern. Fielding too can be a lot better.” She cited Australia’s semifinal defeat, where they failed to defend 338, as evidence that even strong teams can falter without a robust bowling attack. In her view, countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh possessed superior bowling units, suggesting India’s batters largely carried the team to victory.
10-Fold Growth in the Game’s Popularity Predicted
Rangaswamy is confident that this World Cup victory will catalyze an unprecedented surge in the popularity of women’s cricket across India. “Ten years down the line, you would see the massive impact of this win. This will inspire millions to take up the sport,” she predicted.
She also extended praise to the outgoing chief selector Neetu David and her panel for meticulously assembling a championship-winning squad that performed brilliantly when it mattered most.