Former India captain Anjum Chopra has said that newly appointed all-format skipper Smriti Mandhana need not model herself on predecessor Harmanpreet Kaur and should instead forge her own distinct leadership identity after being handed the captaincy across all three formats.

The Leadership Transition

Smriti was named India's all-format captain on the same day Harmanpreet stepped down after nearly a decade at the helm. Her first full-time assignment begins with a home series against Zimbabwe, opening with three T20Is in Raipur from 16 October. The appointment followed a review meeting held in Guwahati on Monday, attended by Smriti, Harmanpreet, head coach Amol Muzumdar, and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia. Smriti also participated in the selection meeting alongside the Amita Sharma-led selection panel to pick squads for the Zimbabwe series.

Anjum Chopra's Assessment

'Smriti does not need to step into Harman's shoes at all. She has experience leading India — the Guwahati games against England in 2019 were the first time she captained the team, and fortunately she has had more time in a leadership role prior to becoming full-time captain than Harman or anyone else had,' Chopra said.

'It's like passing a baton in a relay: Smriti collected it cleanly while already on the run, so she has a head start. How that head start gets converted is how she will be measured in the present and future,' she added. Chopra further noted that if there were no expectation of change, the change itself would not have been made. 'I don't expect Smriti to be a clone of Harman, and nobody should be a clone. You take the best parts of every leader, bring them forward, and make them your own,' she said.

Challenges Ahead for the New Captain

Chopra identified addressing team gaps across T20s and ODIs as Smriti's primary challenge. 'All these players — Deepti, Smriti, Jemimah — reached this pedestal together. Now it's about taking it to the next level,' she observed. She also noted that preparation for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in India would be a significant yardstick. 'How everyone shapes up moving toward the ICC Champions Trophy in India will be closely measured. Everyone has to start defining their own pathway,' Chopra said.

Smriti's Credentials and Grooming

Smriti, India's most prolific all-format batter, previously led India in four ODIs and 18 T20Is, and also captained Maharashtra in domestic cricket. She guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to the Women's Premier League (WPL) title earlier this year, having also led the franchise to its maiden crown in 2024. In September, she surpassed Mithali Raj to become the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket across formats. Her 18 international centuries are the most by any women's batter, and she is the first Indian woman to score hundreds in all three formats.

Chopra pointed to the WPL success as evidence of Smriti's readiness. 'When you lead a franchise team in your own country and win titles, you learn a lot about yourself. She has had a very good grooming to become a leader,' she said.

The Zimbabwe Series as a Gentle Start

On how the squad will manage the transition, Chopra struck an optimistic note, observing that the Zimbabwe series — the first bilateral series India women have played against Zimbabwe — offers the team breathing room. 'This series isn't against a world-number-one side where high tension is running around, so the players will have space and time to adjust,' she said. She added that the dressing room dynamic would settle quickly given the familiarity within the group.

With the Zimbabwe series set to begin on 16 October, all eyes will be on how Mandhana stamps her own authority on a team that has long been shaped by her predecessor's formidable tenure.