Anjum Chopra expressed evident irritation with Shantha Rangaswamy’s suggestion that someone replace Harmanpreet Kaur as India captain, despite her heroics during the Women’s World Cup 2025. Rangaswamy, a former India captain, suggested that Harmanpreet concentrate on her batting and fielding. The 71-year-old believes that appointing a new captain could benefit India in the future.
Harmanpreet led the Indian squad admirably during their successful World Cup campaign. She also performed admirably with the bat, amassing 260 runs in eight games, including an audacious 89 off 88 balls in the semi-finals against Australia.
Anjum Chopra stated that after every major tournament, regardless of India’s outcome, some individuals want Harmanpreet to be removed as the team’s captain. The former India captain declined to further on the topic since she did not want to spoil the country’s joyous mood after winning the World Cup.
“After every World Cup, there’s one statement like this that comes out. Pick out the last four or five World Cups and you can see how many times these kinds of statements have been made. When India lose a tournament, they say Harman should be removed. When India win a tournament, they say Harman should be removed,” Anjum told NDTV.
“So, these kinds of statements are given every time. I seriously don’t want to comment on this right now as it would spoil the moment of India’s victory,” she added.
From Day 1 until today, not even for a moment have I ever thought she is not a match-winner: Anjum Chopra
Anjum shares great camaraderie with Harmanpreet, having seen her develop as a cricketer from close quarters. The cricketer-turned-commentator said that she has considered Harmanpreet a match-winner since the day she saw her playing for the first time. Anjum mentioned this as one of the reasons why she is vocal about the 36-year-old captaining the Women in Blue.
“When I saw her on the first day she played domestic cricket with us. Later, we were all in an Indian camp, playing a Challenger Trophy tournament in Mumbai in 2007-08. I immediately noticed how talented she was-an under-19 player who could hit the ball a long way. I was certain that she was special,” Anjum said.
“I played with her in domestic cricket before she joined the Indian team. The kind of skill Harman showcased in those few outings impressed me greatly. From Day 1 until today, not even for a moment have I ever thought she is not a match-winner. That’s why I have always been vocal over the years that Harman should be our captain,” she concluded.
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