Shafali, Jemimah prepared to take over India T20I captaincy, says Mithali Raj
New Delhi, July 17
Former India captain Mithali Raj on Friday has backed youngsters Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues as future leaders of the national side in the shortest format, stating that both cricketers are 'truly prepared' to take over the mantle from Harmanpreet Kaur.
Mithali's comments come after India suffered group-stage exits in two consecutive editions of the T20 World Cup under Harmanpreet's leadership. Harmanpreet, 37, led India to an unforgettable ODI World Cup title win on home soil last year. But under her leadership in T20Is since 2018, India are yet to win a T20 World Cup.
As of now, Harmanpreet is set to lead India in the Asian Games in Japan in September-October and is expected to captain them in the Women's Asia Cup in August-September. Responding to a fan on social media platform 'X' who questioned her advocacy for Shafali over current India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, Mithali clarified that her vision was aimed at the long-term future of the team.
"That's a fair question. This isn't about Smriti's ability to lead, and I have no doubt about that, which is why I've mentioned that's she's well suited to captain India in the longer formats," Mithali wrote on 'X'.
Detailing her rationale behind endorsing Shafali, who has been a mainstay in the national side for seven years and captained India to its first U19 World Cup trophy in 2023, Mithali explained, "My thought on Shafali is more about looking ahead. She's still young, has one of the best strike rates, can bowl and has been in the T20 setup since 2019; leadership is developed not on the shelf but on the field.
Speaking about Jemimah, who led Delhi Capitals to being runners-up in WPL 2026, Mithali added, "Likewise, Jemimah, she is a part of every International T20 league. And it's true she didn't have a good World Cup but that can happen to any player.
"She is a team player, selfless and an excellent player of spin; she also saves 20-25 runs every game with her fielding which often goes unnoticed. So according to me both are truly prepared."
— IANS
Reader Comments
I think Smriti Mandhana deserves more credit! She's been the vice-captain since forever and has always stepped up when needed. But Mithali's point about looking long-term is valid too - Shafali and Jemimah are the future. Just hope the team management handles this transition smoothly without any politics. 🤞
Interesting take from Mithali! As an outsider looking in, I always thought India had depth but lacked consistency in T20Is. Shafali's strike rate and Jemimah's fielding are real assets. But shouldn't the focus be on winning now rather than planning for 2030? Harmanpreet is still quality despite the World Cup results.
Yaar, I love how Mithali is always thinking about the team's future! She's like that wise elder who sees 10 moves ahead. Shafali has the aggression we need, and Jemimah's work ethic is unmatched. But let's not forget Harmanpreet - her ODI World Cup win on home soil was iconic! Mat be dono formats ke liye alag captains banao? 🤔
Respectfully disagree with Mithali on this one. Smriti has been the most consistent batter across formats and has captained in domestic cricket. Why overlook her for T20Is just because she's "better suited" for longer formats? That sounds like a euphemism for something else. Also, Shafali's recent form has been patchy. Let's not pile pressure on young shoulders!
As someone who's followed women's cricket since the 2017 World Cup, I trust Mithali's judgment completely. She's been through every phase of Indian women's cricket. Shafali captaining India U19 to World Cup glory is proof enough. And Jemimah? That girl bleeds
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.