'Why are we even talking about a change in captaincy?': Anjum Chopra differs from Mithali Raj

New Delhi: Former India captain Anjum Chopra believes replacing Harmanpreet Kaur as captain is not the answer to the Indian women's cricket team's challenges, insisting that the side lacks sufficient quality backup options across multiple departments.

Her remarks come amid growing debate over the team's future leadership after former skipper Mithali Raj suggested that selectors should focus on the long term by grooming a young captain such as Shafali Verma for the WT20I format. Chopra, however, does not see a change in captaincy as the right solution.

"Why are we even talking about a change (in captaincy)? You can make anybody the captain. That doesn't mean that the rest of the 10 players will start performing differently. And if that has to happen, then I think we're in a very bad zone or a wrong place," Chopra told PTI in an interview.

"I'm not saying that nobody can become a captain. It's not a permanent position for anyone. And if change of captaincy is the solution, then I think in every series, we should keep changing captains if that is the way that we are going to get results," the former left-handed batter said.

The 49-year-old also pointed to the lack of depth in the Indian squad, saying the team has limited options in the pace attack, spin department, and both the top and middle order.

"We're obviously lacking in the pace department. We are lacking options in the spin department. Presently, there is Sneh Rana, there is Deepti Sharma and there is Shree Charani. On the fringes is Radha Yadav.

"We are also lacking (in quality) in the middle order. We are lacking in batting options in the top order. So there are a lot of areas that we are a very much a work-in-progress team," she observed.

Chopra further questioned the team's planning and the apparent lack of trust in players outside the core group, recalling India's 2025 Women's ODI World Cup campaign. 

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"Let's just go back to the 2025 ODI World Cup. We didn't have a 13th player in this Indian team. We had to get Shafali Verma, who was playing domestic cricket in Surat, and she had to come in and walk straight into the playing 11.

"So we didn't even have a 13th player on this team who could step in and replace an injured Pratika Rawal. We had to get a player from outside," she made some harsh observations.

According to Chopra, building greater squad depth is essential if India are to consistently challenge for major ICC titles.

"Yes, we have good players, but we are looking at players, if you're wanting to win World Cups or you're wanting to win championships, we have to have options.

"One player gets injured, we are looking for options and we have to wait for somebody to come from outside. So let's start strengthening the bases first."

She cited Australia as the benchmark, saying the reigning powerhouse consistently builds squads with multiple players capable of filling every role.

"Australia, I always feel that they have more than one player in that line-up. Because when they select a team, they select options. They don't just select players, they select options. That's how Australia dominates.

"And you see their team, they will always have more than one option for that one slot in that 9-11. For us to get into that kind of a space, it will take time because our assembly line also has to be in that same vein as to see to get the end result," she signed off. (PTI)