Muzumdar: Indian women’s cricket in healthy state and specialist T20I side could come “Not long”

Amol Muzumdar, India women’s head coach, said on Saturday in Mumbai at an event organised by the Sports Journalists’ Association of Mumbai that Indian women’s cricket is in a healthy state and that the national team could soon field a specialist T20I squad, adding, "Not long."

Muzumdar pointed to the talent emerging from the Centre of Excellence as evidence of progress, citing the India under-15 and under-19 camps held there and describing the work at the Centre of Excellence as "superb." "We’re already on that path. There’s some amazing talent coming through. The talent I’ve seen at the COE, where they hold the India under-15 and under-19 camps, is terrific. The work at the Centre of Excellence is superb. The camps are a good reflection of where Indian women’s cricket is at the moment. I’m sure it’s in a healthy state," he said.

On the calibre and preparation of younger players, Muzumdar said they arrive professionally prepared and aware of modern demands: "They are tuned in. They are professionals. Even the U-15 players are professionals. They understand the nutrition aspect of the game. They understand the fitness aspect of the game. They understand fielding. They’re terrific fielders. They’re good athletes. They understand that athleticism is key in cricket," he said.

Muzumdar suggested that this generation’s attributes — fitness, fielding and professionalism — could accelerate the formation of a specialist short-format unit for India, reiterating that the pathway is already in place through the COE camps and development structures he described.

Addressing leadership, Muzumdar acknowledged a recent change in captaincy: Harmanpreet Kaur has handed over the India captaincy to Smriti Mandhana, a move Muzumdar positioned as part of a broader transition within the team during his tenure.

Reflecting on his working relationship with Harmanpreet, who he said he worked closely with during his three-year tenure, Muzumdar praised her conduct as captain: "I had a very good time with Harman as a captain. But I’m also looking forward to the future. With utmost respect, the manner in which she conducted herself as a captain, as a skipper, was superb," he said.

The confirmed captaincy handover to Smriti Mandhana frames the immediate leadership change within Indian women’s cricket and, according to Muzumdar’s remarks at the SJAM event, the established youth pathway at the Centre of Excellence positions the side to develop specialised T20I options in the near term.