India, Oct. 7 -- A journalist once told Smriti Mandhana that she looked quite emotional after a game.

"Was I?" came the response.

It was quintessential Mandhana.

For years, India had a captain who wore her heart on her sleeve. Harmanpreet Kaur's cricket was visceral. You could see it during her record-breaking innings, her celebrations, the frustration, and the occasional confrontation with an umpire or an opponent.

She was willing to take people on and one could argue that in some ways, the team often needed somebody who would. But as the Indian cricket team now enter tournaments as favourites, challenging the best sides in the world, it almost feels like Smriti's assured style is better suited.

"As a captain, she was as aggressive ...