BCCI looks to Harmanpreet to mentor Mandhana in women's cricket

The BCCI is reportedly keen to establish a leadership dynamic within the women's cricket setup where captain Harmanpreet Kaur takes on a mentoring role for Smriti Mandhana, mirroring the successful partnership between MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli in men's cricket. Officials believe Harmanpreet's experience and leadership acumen could provide valuable guidance to Mandhana as she continues her trajectory as one of Indian cricket's premier batting talents.

The board views such mentor-protégé relationships as crucial for developing not just individual players but also building a strong leadership pipeline within the national team. Dhoni's influence on Kohli during their overlapping years in the Indian setup is widely credited with shaping Kohli's captaincy philosophy and temperament, serving as a model for succession planning in Indian cricket.

With Harmanpreet at the helm of the women's team and Mandhana occupying a pivotal position in the batting order, the BCCI sees an opportunity to foster institutional knowledge transfer and strengthen team cohesion. Such collaborative relationships are seen as beneficial for both players, with senior leaders gaining additional responsibilities while emerging talents gain access to experienced guidance.

The structure aims to create continuity in Indian women's cricket while ensuring that valuable insights and lessons from established captains are passed down to the next generation of leaders.