Former India captain Anjum Chopra has said that removing Harmanpreet Kaur from captaincy should not be seen as a quick fix for the Indian women’s cricket team. In her view, the larger problem is the lack of dependable backup options across departments.
Chopra was responding to the debate around leadership after another former India captain, Mithali Raj, suggested that selectors should look at the bigger picture and consider grooming a younger captain such as Shafali Verma for WT20Is.
Chopra did not agree that a change in captaincy would automatically solve India’s performance concerns. Speaking to PTI, she said, “Why are we even talking about a change (in captaincy)? You can make anybody the captain. That doesn’t mean that the rest of the 10 players will start performing differently.”
She added that if captaincy alone is viewed as the answer, then the team is looking at the problem in the wrong way. “I’m not saying that nobody can become a captain. It’s not a permanent position for anyone. And if change of captaincy is the solution, then I think in every series, we should keep changing captains if that is the way that we are going to get results,” Chopra said.
Chopra points to gaps beyond leadership
The 49-year-old former all-rounder said India do not have many strong options outside the current core group. She listed concerns in batting, pace bowling and spin bowling, indicating that the issue goes deeper than who leads the side.
According to Chopra, the pace department lacks depth. She also said India are short of options in spin, even though Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani are part of the current mix, with Radha Yadav on the fringes.
Her assessment of the batting was similar. Chopra said India are lacking quality in the middle order and do not have enough batting options at the top either. She described the side as a work-in-progress team, with several areas still needing attention.
Question over reserve strength
Chopra also raised questions about preparation and the team’s trust in players outside its main group. She referred to the 2025 ODI World Cup while explaining why she felt the bench strength was a serious concern.
She said India did not have a ready 13th player in the squad when an injury replacement was needed. As Chopra recalled, Shafali Verma was playing domestic cricket in Surat and had to be brought in from outside before going straight into the playing eleven.
“So we didn’t even have a 13th player on this team who could step in and replace an injured Pratika Rawal. We had to get a player from outside,” Chopra said.
Her comments suggest that the selection and preparation debate should include more than captaincy. For Chopra, the bigger concern is whether India have enough players ready to step in when required, especially in major tournaments.
Focus on building options
Chopra’s remarks come at a time when discussions around the Indian women’s team have included leadership, player development and the next phase of planning. Mithali Raj’s suggestion about grooming Shafali Verma for WT20Is reflects one view. Chopra’s response puts the focus on the overall squad structure.
She did not rule out captaincy changes in principle. Her point was that leadership change should not be treated as the main solution when the team has gaps in several playing roles.
The former skipper’s view is that India need more quality options in reserve, so that injuries or form concerns do not leave the team dependent on players outside the selected group. Her argument places responsibility on long-term preparation as much as on match-day leadership.
Source: The Hindu Cricket.