Harmanpreet Kaur Ends Captaincy Stint
India women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down from captaincy across all three formats, bringing an end to a long and influential leadership stint. The 37-year-old announced the decision on October 6, saying she was ready to return to playing without the responsibility of leading the team.
Emotional Announcement
Harmanpreet described the decision as difficult, saying her captaincy had involved years of memories, sacrifices and emotional highs and lows. She said she felt she had fulfilled her responsibility and was leaving the role with a sense of peace.
She will continue representing India as a player across formats.
A Historic World Cup Triumph
Harmanpreet’s biggest achievement as captain came when India won its maiden senior women’s ODI World Cup under her leadership in 2025. She became the first Indian woman to captain the country to a senior ICC World Cup title.
Her leadership also brought major success at the Asian Games, with India securing gold medals in 2022 and 2026.
A Decade at the Helm
Harmanpreet first took charge of India’s T20I side in 2016. She became the ODI captain in 2022 and was appointed all-format captain in 2023.
During her captaincy, she led India in five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is.
Smriti Mandhana Emerges as Successor
With Harmanpreet stepping aside, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana is widely regarded as a leading candidate to take over. A BCCI review meeting in Guwahati involving Harmanpreet, Mandhana and head coach Amol Muzumdar had discussed the team’s future direction.
The change could mark the beginning of a new leadership era for the Indian women’s team.
Harmanpreet’s Legacy
Beyond her captaincy, Harmanpreet remains one of India’s most accomplished women cricketers. She was the first Indian to score a T20I century and has become a landmark figure in the growth of women’s cricket in the country.
Her decision ends one chapter but not her international career. As Harmanpreet herself indicated, the captaincy may be over, but her journey with Indian cricket continues.
