REPORT: Smriti-Harmanpreet tensions emerge as India enters a new captaincy era

Smriti Mandhana’s elevation to India’s all-format captaincy marks the beginning of a new leadership era, but the transition comes with reports of tension between her and outgoing captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
Mandhana was the obvious successor after Harmanpreet stepped down following a review meeting with the BCCI. The 37-year-old ended a leadership tenure that began in 2016 on a high, having led India to a second successive Asian Games gold medal in Japan. Mandhana, meanwhile, takes charge after years of establishing herself as India’s leading batter and one of the most accomplished players in women’s cricket.
According to a PTI report, the captaincy issue had become a source of friction between the two senior players, who had shared a strong relationship earlier. A team source claimed that Mandhana and Harmanpreet had “not been seeing eye to eye for a while”, creating unease within the dressing room. The claim has not been publicly confirmed by either player or the BCCI.
The leadership debate had been building for some time. India ended their long wait for an ODI World Cup title under Harmanpreet in 2025, but their early exits from consecutive T20 World Cups brought renewed scrutiny on the captaincy. Mandhana had also indicated that she was ready to take on the responsibility.
Former India captain Mithali Raj had made a similar argument after India’s T20 World Cup exit, saying Mandhana should have been handed the ODI captaincy two or three years earlier. She also suggested that a younger player such as Shafali Verma could take charge in T20Is.
Harmanpreet’s decision to step down came after the review meeting in Guwahati, where the leadership transition was reportedly discussed. She subsequently chose to relinquish the captaincy herself while making it clear that she intends to continue playing for India.
That creates another important dynamic for Mandhana. The former captain will remain in the dressing room as a senior player, meaning the two will have to work together under a new hierarchy.
India’s leadership transitions have not always been smooth. Harmanpreet’s own elevation to the ODI captaincy after the 2022 World Cup followed a difficult period involving Mithali Raj. The latest change therefore carries significance beyond who wears the captain’s armband.
Mandhana now inherits a team that has recently won the ODI World Cup, Asia Cup and two successive Asian Games gold medals, but also one that has struggled in T20 World Cups.
For the new captain, the challenge will be to preserve India’s recent success while creating her own leadership identity. For Harmanpreet, the focus shifts to making an impact as a senior batter and helping the team through the transition.