Smriti Mandhana says Harmanpreet Kaur's presence will help youngsters

Smriti Mandhana has taken over as India's full-time captain across formats, and her first job starts Friday with a three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe.

She says Harmanpreet Kaur's experience will matter most in shaping how the younger players think and prepare. Six T20Is before the 2027 Women's Champions Trophy give the team time to settle on a style, and Mandhana wants Kaur's routines to become the template.

BCCI president Mithun Manhas has made the same point: the women's side should copy the men's model, where senior players stay around to steady new captains.