Edulji urges split leadership, says Harmanpreet is finding it tough

Diana Edulji has suggested a split-captaincy for India’s women’s teams, saying Harmanpreet is finding it tough and that it is time to hand white-ball leadership to Smriti. Her remarks were published on 2026-07-20 and reopen the debate over captaincy arrangements in Indian women’s cricket.

Edulji, identified as a former India skipper, argued that the responsibilities could be divided between formats with Smriti taking charge of the white-ball teams. The former captain framed the proposal as a practical response to current leadership demands rather than a personal critique. The suggestion points to a structural change in how captaincy duties might be allocated across formats.

In her view, Harmanpreet’s challenges as captain justify exploring alternative arrangements. Edulji used the published platform on 2026-07-20 to make her case clear, emphasizing the potential benefits of specialized leadership for different formats. The recommendation centers on balancing workload and allowing leaders to focus on format-specific strategies.

Edulji specifically named Smriti as the candidate to assume white-ball captaincy, proposing a clear division of responsibilities between formats. She portrayed that shift as timely and suitable to the present circumstances rather than a long-term indictment of any individual. The proposal implicitly acknowledges both the evolving demands of international cricket and the need for adaptability in leadership choices.

The call for split captaincy also raises questions about selection of captains and the governance approach to leadership roles within the team setup. By advocating Smriti for white-ball duties, Edulji put forward a concrete alternative to a single-captain model without prescribing other personnel changes. The suggestion leaves open how such a transition would be managed administratively and on-field.

Edulji’s intervention, published on 2026-07-20, brings renewed attention to the structure of captaincy for India’s women across formats. Her recommendation that Smriti take the white-ball reins and that Harmanpreet’s current difficulties be acknowledged ensures the leadership conversation remains part of the public discourse.