Smriti Mandhana Aims to Build a Culture of Professionalism as India Women’s New Captain

Smriti Mandhana is set to begin a new chapter in Indian women’s cricket as she takes over as the full-time captain from Harmanpreet Kaur, with a focus on building a stronger team culture, improving professionalism and guiding India towards greater success across all formats.
Ahead of India’s opening T20I against Zimbabwe on October 16, Mandhana shared her vision for the team, highlighting the importance of discipline, preparation, training and recovery. She believes that refining these aspects will help the squad function more effectively and develop a consistent approach to international cricket.
Mandhana explained that her primary objective as captain is to establish a culture in which professionalism becomes an integral part of every player's routine. While acknowledging that these standards already exist within the Indian team, she wants to strengthen them further and ensure that every player contributes to maintaining them. Her aim is to leave behind a well-organised and united team by the time her captaincy tenure ends.
The Indian skipper also outlined her long-term ambitions, which include winning major international tournaments, lifting World Cup titles and taking India to the No. 1 position in the ICC rankings across all formats. India have remained among the top-ranked teams in recent years, and Mandhana believes the next step is to turn that consistency into championship victories.
However, she does not want the pressure of these long-term targets to overshadow the team's immediate priorities. Instead, she plans to introduce smaller, gradual improvements that can help India progress towards their broader objectives.
Mandhana also credited her experience as captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women's Premier League for shaping her leadership approach. The tournament helped her understand team building, player selection, auction strategies and the importance of developing a clear vision. She intends to apply these lessons to the national side while encouraging players to trust their abilities and take responsibility on the field.
Describing her captaincy style, Mandhana said she prefers to remain calm and approachable while understanding the individual needs of her teammates. She believes every player has a different mindset and approach to the game, making it important to provide the right guidance and allow individuals to develop within their roles.
She also emphasised that leadership involves supporting the team, making important decisions under pressure and helping players improve when necessary. Her approach is centred on collective responsibility, with every member encouraged to contribute ideas and demonstrate leadership.
As India begin their T20I series against Zimbabwe, Mandhana's appointment marks an important transition for the women's team. With a focus on professionalism, player development and long-term success, she will look to build on India's recent progress and establish a team capable of competing consistently for major international titles.

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