Calling for bold decisions in Indian women’s T20 cricket, former skipper Diana Edulji today questioned why off-form Harmanpreet Kaur cannot be replaced as captain when T20 World Cup title winning skipper Suryakumar Yadav lost his place in the men’s team for lack of runs from his blade.
“If we can take bold decisions in men’s cricket, then we should show the same courage in women’s cricket,” Diana told The Statesman.
Elaborating, she said, “If the decision could be taken to remove Suryakumar Yadav as captain and even drop him from the team despite winning the T20 World Cup, then why should Harmanpreet continue as captain after India’s failure in the Women’s T20 World Cup? Why can’t the women’s national selectors take bold decisions? It’s time to think differently.”
Things have not been going well for India women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur. Recently, India failed to even qualify for the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup. On the other hand, despite leading India to the T20 World Cup glory last March, Yadav lost the captaincy and was even dropped from the team following slump in batting form, recurring fitness issues and also for the sake of team rebuilding.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced India’s women’s squad for the upcoming Asian Games. Following India’s disappointing T20 World Cup campaign, head coach Amol Muzumdar had indicated that several changes would be made to the team.
However, when the Asian Games squad was announced, there were hardly any significant changes.
“Although Harman is one of my favourite players and I’ve always supported her, I think it’s time to move on, at least in T20 cricket. Let her continue as a player, but we should start thinking about a new captain,” said Edulji, who scored 404 runs and took 63 wickets for India in 20 Women’s Test matches between 1976 and 1991.
Harmanpreet scored 141 runs in five matches during the recently concluded Women’s T20 World Cup. Her best performance came against Australia in India’s final group-stage match, where she made 56 off just 27 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes. However, despite her brilliant innings, India lost the match by six wickets and crashed out of the race for the semi-finals. Before that, she had scored 36, 12, 24 and 13 in her other four innings.
Edulji believes Harmanpreet is no longer able to cope with the pressure of captaincy, and that India now needs a new leader. Asked who she would like to see as captain, the 70-year-old Edulji said, “We need someone with better tactical ideas. Captaincy involves much more than just making bowling changes. I feel Harman is no longer able to carry the burden of leadership.”
Currently an advisor to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), Edulji wants the national selectors to focus on the next generation of Indian women’s cricketers.
Explaining why change is necessary, she added, “We have to look towards the future, and this is the right time to do so. In my opinion, it’s time to take tough decisions.”
Edulji also suggested that head coach Amol Muzumdar should be replaced.
“I don’t think he can offer anything more than what he already has. We now need someone who can lift the team’s morale and be tougher. We need someone who can push the girls out of their comfort zone.”
She also advocated separate Indian squads for different formats.
“We need to think about having a separate T20 team. We cannot continue playing the same players across all formats. The excessive workload is affecting the players’ fitness. Poor fitness is resulting in poor fielding. We have enough players who can be groomed specifically for T20 cricket.”
“India will compete in the Olympics next year, and that is a huge opportunity. My only request to the Board is to make the necessary changes before the Olympics,” said Edulji, regarded as one of the early stars in Indian women’s cricket, who scored 211 runs and picked up 46 wickets In 34 One-Day Internationals.