5 publishers · first seen Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:23 UTC · updated Fri, 30 Oct 2026 07:47 UTC
Smriti Mandhana has been named captain of India's women's cricket team following Harmanpreet Kaur's resignation in October 2026. Mandhana led India to a 3-0 ODI series victory against Zimbabwe, marking a successful start to her captaincy. A moment between Mandhana and Kaur after the final match, where a handshake appeared to be missed, drew attention online, though no official comment was made. Mandhana revealed that MS Dhoni, the 45-year-old former India captain, sent her a personal WhatsApp message after India's 2025 Women's World Cup win, congratulating her and asking her to pass on his wishes to the entire team.
India won the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup by defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final held in Navi Mumbai. Mandhana was the team's leading run-scorer in the tournament with 434 runs in nine matches, including one century and two half-centuries, at an average of 54.25. The victory marked a historic milestone for women's cricket in India, with Dhoni noting its significance in inspiring future generations.
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