Indian Women’s Cricket Team in Leadership Crisis after T20 Exit
Indian Women’s Cricket Team Faces Leadership Dilemma After T20 World Cup Exit
The Indian women’s cricket team finished its T20 World Cup Blues on a very disappointing note, as they failed to go beyond the group stage. The squad, however, was pretty powerful yet losses to New Zealand and Australia were detrimental to the campaign. The loss to the New Zealander set the ball rolling on a chain of events that saw the team fighting to make it to the last four. In the end, however, such a pathetic display was the bane in the hope eclipsing the horizon for a team that had aimed to go places in this competition.
It has come to light that the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI and the team management in the wake of the outcome are looking at making changes in the leadership hierarchy. The most common issue under discussion is the much-reported sack of the current skipper Harmanpreet Kaur to enable the team to have a better outlook. Having taken over as captain of the team back in 2016, Kaur has steered the team to the finals of several competitions although the recent failures have caused a revision.
The BCCI and the selection committee’s upcoming meeting with the team’s head coach, Amol Mazumdar, will be critical in deciding the way forward. The meeting however, anticipates taking place before the start of the New Zealand series which is set to commence on October 24, and aims at addressing the team’s current standstill and the need for a change of leadership. It is however too early to tell if changes will be instituted and this has led to conversations regarding Kaur’s likely replacement in the captaincy role.
Even though Harmanpreet Kaur had individual outings with the bat during the World Cup, she has been at the receiving end of criticism for the lack of success and growth of the team in ICC tournaments as her captaincy. The failure to qualify for the knockout stages has led to doubts being raised on the capabilities of the current leadership. Both management and former players have called for the need for a change, especially with the home ODI World Cup scheduled for 2025. The aim here is to execute the plan, early enough, to be able to construct a framework for the team towards the next tournaments.
When looking at the Capitancy potential candidates, Smriti Mandhana is the most prominent one. The Vice Captain has a vast experience of leadership, having led the RCB to victory in the WPL and having skipped Kaur, during her previous time with the national team. Her regular match performances and subtle mind make her fit for the position.
At the same Consideration, younger people wielding the captaincy look realistic. Jemimah Rodrigues, who is just 24, is very vibrant and full of energy. The fact that she interacts well with other players, with the possibility of her being a captain for a long time is seen as a strong point. It is appreciated that having a younger captain brings about a chance of a positive shift in the Indian women’s cricket evolution bringing a whole new outlook towards the team motivation.
The choice of who will captain the team will be very important; it may determine whether or not India will perform well in crucial knockout games. Tournaments have patterns, and those nations that have succeeded India of late have tended to improve over the years quite steadily in all formats of the game. Concerns over the brand equity of India as a cricketing unit and wish to see it ranked higher may necessitate leadership rotation.
In the interim, for those cricket fans who are in search of “free live cricket streaming” and want to keep up with the activities of the Indian women’s side, Winexch is a perfect solution. The changing dynamics in leadership, along with the forthcoming series, maybe a watershed in the annals of women’s cricket in India, paving the way for a new messiah of women’s cricket who will be regarded as a godfather of cricket.
FAQ
- In the Women’s T20 World Cup, what made India unable to continue beyond the group stage?
Two losses to New Zealand and Australia in the group stage knocked India out.
- Is there a possibility of a replacement for Harmanpreet Kaur as captain?
The BCCI is mulling over the leadership changes and is considering a meeting with the coach and selection committee regarding the captaincy.
- Who are the prioritized candidates for replacing Harmanpreet Kaur as captain?
The most likely option is Smriti Mandhana, while Jemimah Rodrigues has also been earmarked for the position – but as a long-term captain.
- How has Smriti Mandhana performed in her past positions of power?
Earlier this year, she took the Royal Challengers Bangalore to their maiden WPL title and also has been in charge of the Indian team when Harmanpreet Kaur is unavailable.
- When is the date for the resolution of the issues regarding captaincy?
This’s likely to be put to rest, or better still it may be done before the New Zealand series that beckons on October 24 against New Zealand, although immediate changes are not yet guaranteed.