New Delhi: Former India pacer Niranjana Nagarajan has backed Harmanpreet Kaur to continue as the captain of the Indian women’s T20I team despite the side’s early exit from the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup.

Niranjana said Harmanpreet has not underperformed as a captain and believes the team needs to focus on strengthening its middle order with more power hitters instead of making an immediate leadership change.

‘One World Cup Loss Should Not Define Captaincy’: Niranjana

The debate over India’s T20I leadership intensified after the team failed to qualify for the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals for the second consecutive time.

However, Niranjana defended Harmanpreet, saying one disappointing tournament should not overshadow her contributions as captain over the years.

“I think Harman is doing a good job. I don’t think one World Cup loss should bother so much. This is the problem – one loss and everything comes up,” Niranjana said.

She added that Harmanpreet has been a consistent leader for India for the last several years and has delivered historic results under her captaincy.

“She has stood up as a captain for India over the last 7-8 years. She has never underperformed as a captain. Even against Australia, she was the one who stood up,” she said.

Need More Middle-Order Power Hitters in T20s

While India’s performances in ODIs and Tests under Harmanpreet and head coach Amol Muzumdar have been impressive, the team’s struggles in T20 cricket have raised concerns.

Niranjana said India needs more aggressive middle-order batters who can clear boundaries and reduce pressure on Harmanpreet during crucial phases of the game.

“We need a couple of more power hitters in the middle order. When Harman comes out to bat, probably it is always 60/2 in 7, 8 or 10 overs. She is not able to take risks immediately because we are losing wickets at a stretch,” she said.

She added that stronger middle-order batting could help India increase totals and compete better against top teams in the shortest format.

Injuries Affected India’s World Cup Balance

Niranjana also pointed out that injuries to key players affected India’s team combination during the tournament.

Emerging all-rounders Amanjot Kaur and Kashvee Gautam missed the campaign due to pre-tournament injuries, while Shreyanka Patil was ruled out midway due to an ankle injury.

The team struggled to find a settled playing XI, with changes made to the bowling combination throughout the tournament.

Fast Bowling Depth Needs Better Management

Speaking about India’s bowling attack, Niranjana backed pacers like Renuka Singh Thakur and Kranti Gaud, while highlighting the importance of managing fast bowlers ahead of upcoming tournaments.

She said the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been taking positive steps through camps at the Centre of Excellence, India A tours and emerging player programmes.

India’s Road Ahead

With major tournaments including the Women’s Asia Cup, Asian Games, home series against Zimbabwe, and a multi-format tour of South Africa ahead, Niranjana said India’s preparation process is already underway.

She added that domestic performances will play an important role in shaping the team’s future combinations, while the core group is expected to remain strong.