As a 15 year-old, I was told to bat like a captain: Smriti Mandhana

New Delhi: As India officially embark upon a new era under the leadership of Smriti Mandhana in two days, perhaps, the biggest question waiting to be answered is what happens to Mandhana, the batter?

For the last few years, Mandhana has, unsurprisingly, been India’s most dependable batter. At the Asia Cup last month, she breached another benchmark to become the all-time leading run-scorer in women's international cricket.

Of those runs, a colossal 1,703 came in 2025 alone. In 2026, she has already piled on 765 runs with the upcoming series against Zimbabwe and India’s tour of South Africa lined up for later this year.

Often, leadership and responsibility push already great players to unlock new levels; how well Mandhana balances this responsibility along with her incredible batting show will be developments to look out for.

As expected of a player of her calibre, Mandhana appears assured.

“Becoming captain on the field won't change how I bat,” said Mandhana in her first-ever press conference since being appointed captain. “Ever since I was 15 years old, my coach told me to bat with the mindset of a captain – taking full responsibility for the innings. That principle stays the same.”

“If a ball is in my zone, I will still go after it and play according to what the team requires.”

Mandhana has had the privilege of watching, observing and learning from the varying captaincy styles of both Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur . While she brings something very distinct to the table, she acknowledges that discussions with her predecessors have proven to be fruitful.