Team India’s performance in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup was very disappointing. They were considered strong favourites to win the tournament, but the team did not even reach the knockout stage and got eliminated in the group stage itself. Now, questions are being raised about Harmanpreet Kaur’s captaincy. According to recent reports, BCCI is planning a meeting with head coach Amol Muzumdar to discuss removing Harmanpreet from captaincy. Former captain Mithali Raj also criticised the team, saying there has been no growth in the last 2-3 years and called for a new captain.
The Indian women’s team is set to play an ODI series against New Zealand from October 24. According to a report from the Indian Express, BCCI may hold a meeting with the team’s head coach Amol Muzumdar before this series. During this meeting, a decision will be made about Harmanpreet’s future as captain. BCCI is considering bringing in a new captain before the 2025 ODI World Cup.
It is worth mentioning that in 2016, India did not make it to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup, after which Harmanpreet Kaur was made captain of the T20 team. Under her captaincy, India reached the knockout stages regularly, even making it to the final in 2020. However, they have never managed to win the tournament.
Why Does BCCI Want to Remove Harmanpreet Kaur?
Several reasons have surfaced for why BCCI is considering removing Harmanpreet Kaur from captaincy. The main reason is that this time the Indian team failed to reach the semi-finals, even though the squad was strong. India was seen as a favourite to win the T20 World Cup, but losses to New Zealand and Australia shattered their hopes. Under Harmanpreet’s captaincy, the team’s fitness and fielding have also been significant issues. During the T20 World Cup, India dropped 3 catches against Australia, and there were other moments where chances were missed.
Former captain Mithali Raj also raised concerns about the team’s fitness. She stated that relying on only 2 fit players out of 11 is not enough to win big tournaments. According to her, besides Jemimah Rodrigues and Radha Yadav, other players are not quick on the field. There are also questions about why new players were not given opportunities under Harmanpreet’s leadership. Mithali pointed out that there has been no growth in the team over the last few years, with the same players consistently playing.
Mithali also mentioned that the men’s team has been more successful because they give new players chances after every major tournament. In contrast, under Harmanpreet’s captaincy, no new players have emerged. Additionally, the team’s planning for big tournaments has not been effective. The Asia Cup could have been a great preparation for the T20 World Cup in the UAE, but India seemed focused only on winning that tournament. When the T20 World Cup began in the UAE, confusion over the batting order at numbers 3 and 4 was evident.