India’s women’s cricket team completed a dominant 3-0 ODI series sweep against Zimbabwe, securing an eight-wicket victory in the third match in Vadodara.
However, it was a brief moment involving former captain Harmanpreet Kaur and current skipper Smriti Mandhana during the post-match handshakes that caught the attention of fans on social media.
As the players exchanged handshakes after the match, Harmanpreet appeared to move towards Mandhana, but the two seemingly missed the interaction as Mandhana looked in another direction. The brief moment quickly became a talking point among viewers, prompting speculation about the relationship between the two Indian stars.
However, there is no clear evidence to suggest that the missed handshake reflected any tension between the players.
Smriti Mandhana takes charge after Harmanpreet Kaur’s captaincy exit
The incident has attracted attention because of the recent leadership change in the Indian women’s team. Harmanpreet handed over the captaincy to Mandhana following India’s gold-medal triumph at the Asian Games, according to the supplied report.
The Zimbabwe series marked an important assignment for Mandhana in her new leadership role. India enjoyed a successful run across both the ODI and T20I legs, strengthening the new captain’s start at the helm.
While the missed handshake has fuelled online discussions, the brief interaction alone does not establish any disagreement between the two cricketers.
How did Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana perform against Zimbabwe?
Both players made contributions during the series, although their performances differed across formats. Harmanpreet enjoyed an impressive run with the bat. She scored 92 runs across two T20I innings at a strike rate of 204.44 before making 126 runs in an ODI innings. Her century in the second ODI helped India post a competitive total.
Mandhana, meanwhile, scored 56 runs across two T20I innings. Her returns in the ODI series were below her usual standards, but India continued to dominate their opponents and completed the sweep.
The contrasting performances have added another dimension to the discussion surrounding the two senior players, but their individual numbers should be viewed separately from speculation about their relationship.
Harmanpreet Kaur vs Smriti Mandhana: Career records
Both cricketers have been important figures in Indian women’s cricket, contributing through their batting and leadership.
According to the supplied figures, Harmanpreet has scored more than 8,000 runs across formats, including nine centuries. Mandhana has accumulated over 9,000 runs and 18 hundreds across formats, consistently playing a major role at the top of India’s batting order.
Mandhana now faces the challenge of balancing her responsibilities as captain with her role as one of India’s leading batters. Her leadership will remain under the spotlight as the team moves into its upcoming international assignments.
What is India’s next assignment under Smriti Mandhana?
India’s next assignment is a multi-format tour of South Africa. The schedule provided includes a one-off Test beginning on December 9, followed by three ODIs and three T20Is.
Before the Test, India are scheduled to play a tour match against South Africa Emerging Players Women on December 6 at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.
The tour will offer Mandhana another opportunity to establish herself as captain across formats while leading a team featuring several experienced players, including Harmanpreet.
For now, the missed handshake remains a brief moment that has attracted attention online. Without further evidence, it would be premature to interpret it as a sign of tension between the former and current captains.