Mithali Raj suggests Jemimah Rodrigues as a potential replacement for Harmanpreet Kaur in India’s Women’s Cricket Team

Former India captain Mithali Raj has voiced her opinion on a leadership change in the Indian Women’s Cricket Team following their disappointing performance in the Women’s T20 World Cup. With India failing to advance past the group stage, Raj suggested it might be time to move beyond current skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, and she urged selectors to consider a younger captain ahead of the 2025 ODI World Cup.

Instead of choosing the experienced vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, Mithali proposed 24-year-old Jemimah Rodrigues as the ideal candidate for captaincy. “If the selectors decide to change, I would go for a young captain,” Raj told PTI, emphasizing the urgency of making the switch now rather than delaying it until closer to the World Cup.

Raj praised Jemimah for her energy on the field, noting that she actively communicates with her teammates and shows leadership qualities. “She’s young, she will serve you more,” said Raj, impressed by Jemimah’s efforts during the World Cup, despite her inability to convert starts into big scores.

India had a lackluster campaign in the T20 World Cup, securing only two wins in four matches, with losses to New Zealand and Australia. Their victories came against weaker teams like Sri Lanka and Pakistan, highlighting the need for change as the team prepares for future tournaments.