"If the selectors decide to change, I would go for a young captain" - Mithali Raj after India's group-stage exit in Women's T20 World Cup 2024

Retired Indian cricketer Mithali Raj believes the national women's team need a change of guard after a shambolic performance in the T20 World Cup 2024. The ex-captain has backed Jemimah Rodrigues to succeed Harmanpreet Kaur as skipper.

Having sustained a heavy 58-run loss to New Zealand in their opening game, India recovered with wins over Pakistan and Sri Lanka. However, they lost to Australia, and New Zealand beating Pakistan meant all four Asian sides were eliminated in the group stage.

Speaking to PTI, Mithali said the time to change the captain is now as it will be too late by the time the next World Cup comes if it happens then. She said:

"If the selectors decide to change, I would go for a young captain. This is the time [to change]; if you delay more then we have another [ODI] World Cup on the horizon [October 2025]. If you are not doing it now, then don't do it later. Then it is too close to the World Cup. Smriti is there but I think someone like Jemimah [Rodrigues] she's 24, she's young, she will serve you more."

Harmanpreet succeeded Mithali as the captain of the side in 2020. She has done a decent job, ushering India to the finals of the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2023. However, the veteran's captaincy came under criticism on multiple occasions.

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"Surprisingly, we took time to adjust to the slowness of the wicket" - Mithali Raj

India v Australia - ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 - Source: Getty

Mithali also criticised the Indian team's lack of adaptability to the slow surfaces in the UAE. It was evidenced by New Zealand captain Sophie Devine playing a knock of 57 in Dubai in their opening match. The 41-year-old added:

"Surprisingly, we took time to adjust to the slowness of the wicket. Unlike an ODI World Cup, it is a short tournament, you don't have a lot of time to adjust to the conditions. Someone like [New Zealand captain] Sophie Devine was able to score that many runs [57 not out] against us and she is not used to playing on slow tracks. We were not quick enough to adjust."

It remains to be seen what will be Harmanpreet Kaur's fate moving forward.