Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down as India women’s captain across all formats after captaining the team to a gold medal at the Asian Games 2026. Her decision came following a BCCI review meeting in Guwahati that included Smriti Mandhana, head coach Amol Muzumdar and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia. Harmanpreet’s 10-year tenure as captain concluded with this transition, which saw Mandhana appointed as her successor.

Former India coach WV Raman reflected on Harmanpreet’s captaincy record and the circumstances surrounding her departure. Raman acknowledged the achievements Harmanpreet delivered during her time leading the national team, while drawing historical parallels to understand the timing of her exit.

“See, it’s very difficult to say what is the right time for somebody to take up captaincy. Let’s not forget that Harmanpreet Kaur has done well as a captain. She’s created history by winning the World Cup. And maybe, you know, people started debating about her continuing as captain after the ordinary campaign in the T20 World Cup,” WV Raman responded to CricTracker’s query during an interaction arranged by Sony Sports Network.

Harmanpreet’s captaincy transition and Raman’s historical perspective

Raman drew a historical parallel between Harmanpreet’s situation and that of Kapil Dev, India’s 1983 World Cup-winning captain. He highlighted that captaincy transitions often occur in the aftermath of major tournament victories, noting that such changes are a natural part of cricket’s evolution. Raman emphasised that the timing of leadership changes depends on the circumstances surrounding each individual case.

“These things keep happening in cricket. Let’s not forget even Kapil Dev, when he created history in 1983 by winning the World Cup. He was stripped of his captaincy six months later. So, it’s all a question of how situations are,” he added.

Raman also assessed the state of the Indian women’s team that Harmanpreet handed over to her successor. He recognised the quality of the squad and its playing style under the outgoing captain’s leadership, noting that Mandhana would inherit a side built on aggressive foundations. Raman outlined the expectations for the new captain as she took charge of a team known for its aggressive approach.

“But here, we obviously have to realize that Harmanpreet Kaur has been around for a while, she’s done extraordinarily well as a captain. And, it was getting a little difficult, because there was some talk about, okay, will Smriti ever lead India, or should Harmanpreet continue? But, now that, we’ve seen the transition or the change happen. We had obviously hoped that the Indian team will go from strength to strength year on year because Harmanpreet has handed over a good side which is playing aggressively, which is playing confidently. And the biggest challenge for Smriti Mandana will be to try and not only sustain that aggression and fearlessness, but also raise the bar with each passing season,” Raman said.

Smriti Mandhana, who had served as Harmanpreet’s long-time deputy, would assume full captaincy responsibilities starting with the tour of Zimbabwe from October 16. Mandhana had already captained India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs before her appointment. The BCCI highlighted her leadership success in franchise cricket, particularly her role in guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Women’s Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026.

Former Indian cricketer WV Raman has outlined how India identifies and selects players from domestic cricket, emphasising that team requirements and specific gaps in the squad drive selection decisions. The former Tamil Nadu coach explained that performances at the domestic level are always considered, but the final choice depends on what the Indian team needs at any given time.

Raman stated that India looks at players who can perform particular roles in international cricket based on the team’s current requirements and what it is lacking. He noted that once selectors identify a clear need, they focus on cricketers who can fill that gap, and if the team management believes those players are good enough, they are brought into the side.

“Performances in domestic cricket will always be rewarded, we’ve seen that happen, and quite obviously, and to be frank about how it is generally done, is that they look at players. Who can perhaps perform a particular role in international cricket given the way the team. Teams, given the team’s requirements and what it is the team is lacking,” said WV Raman to CricTracker’s query during an interaction arranged by Sony Sports Network. 

How India identifies players from domestic cricket

Raman added that he is cautious about nominating specific players for selection, preferring instead to let performances speak for themselves. He explained that while many cricketers put up good performances in domestic cricket, the actual selection depends on what the Indian team needs at that moment.

“It’s only then a certain set of cricketers will be focused upon more by the selectors, and then they’re brought into the side if the selectors and the team management feels that these guys are good enough to come in, because that’s where we need to close the gaps. Now, as to nominate players who are good enough to come, I generally am not a great fan of throwing names and saying these are the guys who should be picked,” he added.

The off-spinner gap and R Ashwin’s retirement

The off-spinner position has been a notable gap in India’s squad since Ravichandran Ashwin‘s retirement from international cricket following the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Brisbane on December 18, 2024. Ashwin, a right-arm off spin bowler and lower order batter, was a key part of India’s bowling attack for many years.

Raman used the off-spinner position as an example of how India approaches filling specific voids in the team. He explained that if a player performs exceptionally well over an extended period in a particular role where the team has a clear need, that player becomes a natural candidate for selection.

“Yes, if there is a clear case of. Some lack in the team, and then you say, okay, for example, if there’s an off-spinner who’s going to do extraordinarily well for three seasons, and then you see that we’ve not had a regular off-spinner since the retirement of Ashwin, then probably I would say, okay, this is the guy you have to look at. But otherwise, I think you would see a lot of cricketers put up good performances. It always is a case of what exactly is needed for the Indian team that will decide who’s going to be picked from the top performers in domestic cricket,” Raman concluded.

Yuvraj Singh has been officially announced as Delhi Capitals’ assistant and batting coach ahead of IPL 2027. This marks his first formal coaching role, bringing together two significant figures from Indian cricket’s golden era. Yuvraj returns to the Delhi franchise with a renewed purpose, joining hands with Sourav Ganguly, who serves as Head Coach of Delhi Capitals. The two share a long-standing relationship dating back to the early years of Yuvraj’s international career.

When Ganguly approached Yuvraj with the offer to join the coaching staff, the former India batsman responded with characteristic wit. Yuvraj delivered a memorable one-liner that captured the essence of their enduring bond and working relationship.

“Dada told me, ‘Would you be my assistant?’ And I was like, ‘I’ve been your assistant for the last 25 years, so I’ll probably be doing the same job!’ I was very happy to do it. I’ve been building myself up over the last three to four years for this opportunity. I have worked with players individually, but being part of the entire team environment will be a different experience, and I’m really excited about it,” Yuvraj was quoted as saying by India Today.

What Yuvraj learnt from Ganguly’s captaincy

Yuvraj’s comment reflected the deep connection and mutual respect between the two cricketers. The 25-year reference underscored how long Yuvraj had been influenced by Ganguly’s leadership and guidance since his international debut under the former captain’s stewardship. Yuvraj has consistently credited Ganguly with shaping his understanding of the game and his approach to international cricket.

“The best thing I learnt from Dada was how to create a good team environment. When he was captain and I made my debut, he kept us together. He made us believe that we could become a great team and win tournaments outside India. He has always been like a big brother to me, whether it was helping me understand selection, mentoring me or showing me what it takes to become a good international cricketer. I’m looking forward to working with him, understanding his insights and sharing mine,” Yuvraj said.

Delhi Capitals’ championship ambitions under new coaching

Delhi Capitals have undergone significant squad changes ahead of IPL 2027. The franchise brought in Rishabh Pant through a trade from Lucknow Super Giants and acquired Zeeshan Ansari from Sunrisers Hyderabad. The team also made strategic releases, parting ways with Kuldeep Yadav and T Natarajan. These moves reflect the franchise’s ambition to build a competitive unit capable of challenging for the title.

“We definitely have the ability, and that’s why Dada and I are coming in — to bring that belief back. Our first target is to qualify, but we are here to win the championship, and I don’t see why we can’t do that. Just because it hasn’t happened in the past doesn’t mean it can’t happen in the future. We want to build a squad and an energy that is ready to fight, take on any opposition and perform in any situation,” Yuvraj said.