India, Oct. 14 -- As India officially embark upon a new era under the leadership of Smriti Mandhana in two days, perhaps, the biggest question waiting to be answered is what happens to Mandhana, the batter?

For the last few years, Mandhana has, unsurprisingly, been India's most dependable batter. At the Asia Cup last month, she breached another benchmark to become the all-time leading run-scorer in women's international cricket.

Of those runs, a colossal 1,703 came in 2025 alone. In 2026, she has already piled on 765 runs with the upcoming series against Zimbabwe and India's tour of South Africa lined up for later this year.

Often, leadership and responsibility push already great players to unlock new levels; how well Mandhana balances...