Former Indian women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj has voiced her support for 24-year-old Jemimah Rodrigues to take over as captain, replacing Harmanpreet Kaur. Harmanpreet’s future as the Indian captain is uncertain following the team’s failure to qualify for the semi-finals of the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the UAE.
Reports from the Indian Express suggest that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is poised to make a decision regarding Harmanpreet’s leadership before the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, set to begin later this month.
“The BCCI will certainly discuss whether to have a new captain on board moving forward. The Indian board has provided everything that the team required, and we feel it’s high time a new face leads the team. Harmanpreet will remain an integral part of the squad, but the BCCI believes it’s time for a leadership transition,” an anonymous source told Indian Express.
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Mithali, who is India’s joint-leading run-scorer in Women’s T20 World Cup history, echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the timing is ideal for a leadership change.
“It’s up to the BCCI and selectors, but if they are considering a change, now is the right time. Delaying further could mean facing another World Cup (in two years) with uncertainty. If it doesn’t happen now, then it might be too late,” Mithali Raj shared with PTI.
Interestingly, Mithali has proposed Jemimah Rodrigues for the captaincy instead of Harmanpreet’s deputy, Smriti Mandhana. Mithali believes Jemimah’s youth offers longevity and fresh energy to the team.
“Smriti is a strong candidate, but I personally think someone like Jemimah—she’s 24, she’s young, and she can lead for longer in the T20s. On the field, she brings a lot of energy, communicates well with everyone, and impressed me a lot during this tournament,” Mithali Raj said.
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MithaliRaj also praised Jemimah for her adaptability, even when playing brief but impactful innings. “She didn’t always convert her starts, but she made a real effort to build momentum. When the team lacked momentum, she would create it, and when they had it, she maintained it,” she added.
Since making her debut in 2018, Jemimah has played 104 T20Is, amassing 2,142 runs, solidifying her as one of India’s most promising young talents.
