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Anjum Chopra, a former Indian captain, has voiced her unwavering support for Harmanpreet Kaur's continued leadership of the Indian women's cricket team. Despite a recent disappointing performance at the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup, where India failed to reach the semi-finals for the first time under Kaur's captaincy, Chopra believes that she remains the optimal choice for the role.
Chopra emphasizes that leadership isn't a sudden phenomenon but a process of preparation. She asserts that within the current Indian team, no one besides Kaur possesses the leadership qualities needed to guide the side. While acknowledging that Kaur's tenure as captain won't be indefinite, Chopra insists that she is the best option for the immediate future and should be given continued support. She acknowledges the inevitable questions surrounding a captain's performance, but believes Kaur answered those questions both through her leadership and her individual batting performance. Chopra points out that the team's shortcomings stem from a lack of support from other players, rather than any fault of the captain.
Chopra firmly dismisses the notion that a leadership change alone will miraculously transform the Indian team's fortunes. She criticizes the tendency to scapegoat leaders when things go wrong and to attribute success solely to them. Instead, she emphasizes the need to address individual player performances and skills. Chopra believes that if each player elevates their individual game, the team's overall success will follow.
With the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup on home soil approaching, Chopra calls for the Indian team to establish a clear strategy for playing the ODI format, given their limited experience in this format compared to other top teams. She also emphasizes the importance of individual players stepping up their game, as their shortcomings will be exposed more readily in international tournaments.
Chopra concludes by highlighting the need for the Indian women's team to translate their aspirations of winning World Cups into concrete action. She acknowledges the significant progress made in women's cricket, but stresses the need to accelerate that progress to stay competitive with other rapidly developing teams. She emphasizes that time is of the essence, as the team cannot afford to fall behind while other nations make strides in the same race.
Source: Anjum Chopra Backs Harmanpreet Kaur as India's Best Long-term Captain Choice