WPL 2023: Aakash Chopra tips Harmanpreet Kaur as ideal Captain for Mumbai Indians

Aakash Chopra has tipped Harmanpreet Kaur to be an ideal captain for Mumbai Indians in the upcoming Women's Premier League 2023 (WPL). The former Indian cricketer also gave an explanation for Mumbai Indians picking Harmanpreet Kaur in the WPL auction on February 13. He said that investing in quality captains has been a top success mantra for the Mumbai-based franchise and that's why they spent big on Harmanpreet.

Mumbai Indians spent INR 1.8 crore to sign Indian women's team captain and beat Royal Challengers Bangalore, UP Warriorz, and Delhi Capitals in the bidding war. MI fans are excited with Harmanpreet's signing and it is no guessing on who will be the captain for the first season.

Aakash also entertained the idea of Harmanpreet leading Mumbai Indians in the JioCinema's daily sports show #AAKASHVANI on Friday (February 23). He said that Mumbai Indians' success in Indian Premier League is due to their investment in good captains. He gave Rohit Sharma's example, who has led the franchise to record five IPL titles so far, and said that the franchise wants to follow the same philosophy with Harmanpreet.

"One of Mumbai Indians’ top success mantras has been investing in a top-quality captain. When we look at the men’s team, they have always invested in captains and when they brought in Rohit Sharma, he was expected to lead the MI side and the rest is history. They have had some wonderful campaigns and won five IPL titles. Similarly, when I look at the women’s team, they want to follow the same philosophy – they want the best captain. 

"In women's cricket, who is the best captain right now? It's Harmanpreet Kaur. Other players have the potential to be good future captains, but at this point in time, it is Harmanpreet Kaur. Eventually they bought her, and according to me, it is a steal,” Aakash said on Thursday.

Lack of Indian spinners might go against Mumbai Indian: Aakash Chopra

Mumbai Indians managed to fetch some of the biggest names in T20 cricket in the WPL auction. But the team is clearly lacking quality spin options ahead of the first season starting on March 4 in Mumbai. Spinners were in high demand throughout the auction and Mumbai Indians tried signing Deepti Sharma, Ashleigh Gardner, and Sneh Rana but were beaten in an intense bidding war.

However, they managed to sign overseas spin talent Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews, and Chloe Tryon, but the team is lacking a top Indian spinner. Aakash also pointed out that the franchise's scouting team was tested in the auction and a decision of not singing a quality Indian spinner might go against them.

"That's the only thing going against them. Lots of other things are fine. Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Devika Vaidya, and Poonam Yadav are among the Indian spinners who are now available, but no one from this group is on the team. So here is probably where their scouting has been tested. So this will be an interesting aspect for the franchise. The team should do well, but not without the lack of obvious challenges. Maybe Hayley Matthews and Tryon might get a little pressure, but we shall find out,” Aakash concluded

For a better experience: Download the CricTracker app from the IOS App Store and Google Play Store.