A players' captain: Inside Smriti Mandhana's vision as India skipper

IND vs ZIM: Smriti Mandhana begins her full-time captaincy journey with a player-first philosophy, drawing on lessons from senior India leaders and her experience with RCB in the WPL. She aims to build a professional, united team and gradually take India to the No. 1 spot across all three formats.

In Short

• Smriti Mandhana begins a new chapter as India’s full-time captain
• Mandhana has won two WPL titles with Royal Challengers Bengaluru
• Mandhana believes in giving players freedom to grow, learn and make mistakes

Smriti Mandhana has one simple mantra as India’s newly appointed captain: “I am a player’s captain.” Having taken over from Harmanpreet Kaur, Mandhana will be under the spotlight as she begins her full-time leadership journey in the T20I series against Zimbabwe. She has led India before, but only as a stand-in whenever Harmanpreet was unavailable.

The first T20I is scheduled to take place in Raipur on Friday. Beyond the result, the focus will be on how Mandhana sets the tone at the start of her captaincy. Being a leader may place you at the top of the hierarchy, but it also means putting yourself last and prioritising the needs of your team and players. Mandhana understands that responsibility.

“As a leader, even though you're first on the list, in a way, you're always last. Whatever the people or players need, you're the one who's always there to help them out, make those calls on the field and be there for everyone,” Mandhana said in a video on BCCI Women.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR PLAYERS

It has been 13 years since Mandhana made her India debut. Over time, she has matured as both a person and a cricketer, with her success reflecting that growth. She believes giving players the freedom to make mistakes and grow in their roles not only helps them perform better but also benefits the team as a whole.

“I understand the players a lot better now than I did some years ago. Earlier, I used to think that everyone approached the game and thought about it the same way I did. Of course, you eventually realise that everyone has a different intent and a different way of doing things.

“You have to let them grow in their own roles, make their own mistakes and understand how and where to get the best out of the team, as well as when and what to say. All of these things have definitely changed me a lot,” Mandhana said.

HOW WPL HELPED MANDHANA GROW

Mandhana also credited the Women’s Premier League (WPL) with helping her develop as a captain. In the inaugural season in 2023, Royal Challengers Bengaluru endured a disastrous start, losing their first five matches before crashing out of the tournament. Mandhana struggled with the bat as well, scoring just 149 runs at an average of around 18. It was far from the start she would have hoped for as RCB captain.

Three years later, Mandhana has two WPL titles to her name. She also holds the record for the highest individual score in a WPL final, having smashed 87 off just 41 balls against Delhi Capitals earlier this year.

“The WPL has played a huge role in helping me grow as a leader. It has taught me how to build a team, plan for auctions and identify the kind of players we need and the brand of cricket we want to play in the following season. I feel the WPL has taught me the importance of having a clear vision and sticking to it, while making players believe that they can win any match on their own. Of course, I will take all that experience into building this team as well,” Mandhana added.

THE PLAYERS’ CAPTAIN

Mandhana has played alongside players from different generations, including Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur. Even before taking on the captaincy full-time, she had the opportunity to learn from some of the finest leaders in Indian cricket.

The left-hander wants to give players the freedom to express themselves and encourage them to take on leadership roles. At the same time, she understands the need to step up when pressure mounts, guide players when they lose their way and help them get back on track.

“I'm a fairly calm person. When needed, I can put my arm around someone's shoulder, but there are also times when I need to tell players how they can improve, and I've done that in my own way. I like to approach things calmly, but it also depends on the game. Some matches go down to the wire, and you have to step up. I would say I'm a player's captain, someone who wants everyone in the team to take on a leadership role,” Mandhana said.

WELL-OILED MACHINE

Mandhana's first priority is to ensure that everyone in the team is on the same page about what it takes to become a better unit. She believes India are in a good place but need to fine-tune certain aspects of their game to keep improving and become an even stronger side.

“The first thing I would want to establish as a leader is a high level of professionalism in how we approach everything, from training and recovery to how we take things forward. That's the biggest thing I want to build a culture around.

“You take up this role to create a culture that is firmly established by the time you leave. I wouldn't say that the culture isn't already there; it is. I just need to fine-tune things and make it a well-oiled machine as a whole,” Mandhana said.

NO.1 IN ALL THREE FORMATS

India have established themselves as one of the powerhouses of world cricket, but Australia have remained at the pinnacle of the game, thanks to their consistency over the past three decades. Mandhana wants to take India to the top of the rankings across all formats, but recognises that reaching that goal will require small, gradual changes.

“Of course, the long-term goal is to win World Cups, win major championships and become the No. 1 team in all formats. We've been ranked No. 3 for the last four or five years, which shows how far we've come from where we used to be. But ultimately, when you finish your career, you want to leave India at the top of the rankings,” Mandhana said.

“Those are all long-term goals, but I'm not someone who wants to put that kind of pressure on myself right now. I would rather focus on making smaller changes to the team in my own way, which I believe will eventually take us towards that goal, rather than constantly thinking about the end result,” Mandhana added.

THE TOUGH ROAD AHEAD

Over the last 13 years, Mandhana has broken records and established herself as one of the biggest names in women's cricket. It took her four years to come into the limelight, with her performances helping India finish as runners-up at the 2017 Women's ODI World Cup. Since then, she has never looked back, becoming one of the most talked-about cricketers in world cricket.

Now, however, Mandhana faces a crucial second innings in her career. All the experience she has gathered over the years will come into play as she takes on the responsibility of leading India. Given the maturity she has displayed, it would come as little surprise if she settles into the role quickly.

The world loves Mandhana, the batter. It loves watching her take on bowlers around the world and celebrate with unbridled joy after delivering a telling blow. Now, it is time to see her in an entirely new role. Success as captain could take her stature in Indian cricket to an entirely different level.

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