India's newly appointed women's cricket captain Smriti Mandhana said on Wednesday, 14 October that the full-time leadership role would not feel entirely unfamiliar, citing nearly a decade as vice-captain as preparation, and expressed confidence that the added responsibility would leave her batting approach unchanged.

The Transition at the Top

Mandhana was confirmed as captain of the Indian women's cricket team earlier this month, on the same day Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the role. The 29-year-old left-handed batter, who has been part of the national setup since 2013, will lead the side across white-ball formats going forward.

Mandhana told reporters: 'I have been the vice-captain for the last almost 10 years. So, I have been part of the leadership role, and I wouldn't say it is an extremely new thing. But for sure, it is something to look forward to, and hopefully, I can do justice to the role.'

Batting Mindset Stays Unchanged

Mandhana was emphatic that donning the captain's armband would not alter the instincts that have made her one of India's premier batters. She drew on advice she received at the age of 15 from her coach.

'I have become a captain on the field; there should be no changes in my batting. My coach used to tell me when I was 15 years old, whenever you bat, always think you are the captain. You always take that responsibility, and those things have never changed. If the ball is in the zone, I will still go for it. I will still play whatever way the team needs me to,' she said.

Zimbabwe Series as a Learning Ground

Mandhana described India's upcoming bilateral series against Zimbabwe — their first-ever meeting with the side — as both an exciting opportunity and a stepping stone.

'The first bilateral series with Zimbabwe, I think, is very exciting. It is our first time playing with them. Sometimes, playing with Zimbabwe and all the Associate nations, it feels like you can learn a lot from them as well because they enjoy playing their cricket,' she said.

She added that the six T20 matches before the Champions Trophy would serve as a platform for the team to set standards and define their approach over the next three months leading into the tournament.

A Stellar 2025 Behind Her

Mandhana arrives at the captaincy off one of the most productive years of her international career. She finished as the second-highest run-scorer at the Women's ODI World Cup, amassing 434 runs. She also made history in June 2025 by becoming the first Indian woman to score international centuries in all three formats, completing the milestone with a T20I hundred against England.

With a landmark series against Zimbabwe on the horizon and the Champions Trophy beyond it, all eyes will be on how Mandhana shapes Indian women's cricket in its next chapter.