Smriti Mandhana has been handed the biggest leadership responsibility of her career after the BCCI named her captain of the Indian women’s cricket team in ODIs and T20Is. The 29-year-old opener will lead India for the first time as full-time white-ball captain when the team begins its upcoming series against Zimbabwe.

The appointment marks a change at the top, but not a complete break from the past. Harmanpreet Kaur, who has led India for several years, will continue to play and has been included in both squads. Her experience will be valuable as Mandhana settles into her new role.

Mandhana has already had a taste of international captaincy. She has led India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs and has also built a strong leadership reputation in domestic and franchise cricket. As captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, she guided the side to Women’s Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026.

Her appointment also comes after an outstanding run with the bat. Mandhana recently moved past Mithali Raj to become the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket. She has also established herself as one of the most consistent opening batters in the international game.

Taking over from Harmanpreet will not be easy. India’s former captain has been at the centre of the team’s growth and played an important role in some of its biggest recent successes. India won the 2025 Women’s World Cup under her leadership and also secured consecutive Asian Games gold medals.

Mandhana, however, believes the transition can be smooth because of the experience within the squad. Her immediate challenge will be to bring together a team that contains established international stars alongside several young players looking to make their mark.

Her first assignment comes against Zimbabwe in a six-match home series. India will play three T20Is followed by three ODIs, giving Mandhana an opportunity to begin her captaincy across both formats.

The T20I series will begin in Raipur on October 16, with the next two matches scheduled for October 18 and 20. The teams will then travel to Vadodara for the three ODIs on October 23, 25 and 28.

The BCCI has also named different deputies for the two formats. Shafali Verma will serve as Mandhana’s vice-captain in the T20Is, while Deepti Sharma will take the role in the ODIs.

The T20I squad has a mixture of familiar names and emerging players. Alongside Mandhana and Harmanpreet, the group includes Shafali, Niki Prasad, Anushka Sharma, Richa Ghosh, G Kamalini, Deepti, Prema Rawat, Sree Charani, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Jintimani Kalita and Minnu Mani.

The ODI squad includes Mandhana, Shafali, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet, Harleen Deol, Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti, Richa, Yastika Bhatia, Vaishnavi Sharma, Nandni, Sree Charani, Kranti, Sayali Satghare and Renuka Thakur.

The Zimbabwe series will give Mandhana room to experiment, particularly with younger players. It will also allow her to understand how she wants India to play under her leadership before tougher assignments arrive.

There is a natural temptation to compare Mandhana with Harmanpreet, but the new captain will have to build her own identity. Her biggest task may be balancing the demands of captaincy with the expectations that come with being one of India’s most important batters.

That balance will be closely watched. Mandhana’s performances at the top of the order have often provided India with momentum, and her leadership responsibilities will now add another layer to her workload.

The change also reflects the depth India has developed in women’s cricket. The Women’s Premier League has given players greater exposure to high-level competition, while the national team has a growing pool of young cricketers ready to step up.

Mandhana’s captaincy begins at a time when expectations around Indian women’s cricket are higher than ever. The team has tasted major success and will be expected to keep competing strongly against the world’s best sides.

The Zimbabwe tour may not carry the pressure of a major tournament, but it will offer the first glimpse of Mandhana’s India. A successful start could give the new captain the confidence and freedom to shape the team in her own style.

A familiar face is now taking India into a new chapter. For Mandhana, the challenge is no longer simply to score runs. She must now lead the way.