Harmanpreet Kaur can be a leader, says Diana Edulji

Mumbai: Indian women’s cricket team might have missed out on the title by a whisker on Sunday but their stupendous show throughout the ICC World Cup won them many hearts. Former India skipper Diana Edulji was impressed with Mithali & Co. “We had targetted a semi-final berth initially but they went beyond that. It has been a great achievement. Sunday was historical day for Indian women’s cricket,” said former India skipper.

India had featured in the final of the 2005 World Cup in South Africa, but it went rather unnoticed at that time. “Women’s cricket was not under BCCI at that time; It was run by Women’s Association of India. This time it was projected in a big way. Even ICC went all out to promote the event,” added Diana.

India’s tournament top-scorer Mithali (409) and bowling spearhead Jhulan Goswami who took 12 wickets in the tournament might not be there in the next 50-over World Cup (2021) in New Zealand and Diana said it’s time we found replacements for the duo.

“We have to work on this and get their replacements ready,” she said.

When asked who is natural replacement for Mithali as leader, Diana said “Harmanpreet has done it in the past.”