Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the Indian women's cricket team across all formats, bringing an historic leadership chapter to a close. The 37-year-old announced her decision on 6 October while making clear that she wants to continue playing for India.
Her departure from the leadership role follows a period in which India won their first Women's ODI World Cup, two Women's T20 Asia Cup titles and two Asian Games gold medals. It changes the team's leadership structure, but not Harmanpreet's availability as a senior batter.
Harmanpreet Kaur ends all-format captaincy tenure
Harmanpreet described the decision as difficult because of the memories, emotions and sacrifices attached to the role. Her message framed the announcement as a transition rather than a retirement: the captaincy has ended, but her playing journey continues.
The BCCI subsequently appointed Smriti Mandhana as India's full-time white-ball captain, completing the leadership transition ahead of the Zimbabwe series.
Her record as India Women's captain
Harmanpreet captained India in five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is. The scale of that record reflects both her longevity and the responsibility she carried across formats during a transformative period for the women's game.
Her tenure reached its defining peak when India won the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup on home soil. That triumph made her the first woman to captain India to a senior 50-over World Cup title.
A trophy-winning leadership legacy
The World Cup was part of a wider run of success. Under Harmanpreet, India won two Women's T20 Asia Cup titles and two Asian Games gold medals. The most recent of those came at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games, where India Women defeated Sri Lanka to retain the Asian Games cricket gold.
India had also completed an unbeaten campaign to secure a record eighth Women's Asia Cup title in 2026. Those results underline why Harmanpreet's captaincy will be remembered for more than individual milestones: her teams repeatedly delivered in tournament cricket.
Captaincy ends, playing journey continues
Harmanpreet's decision does not end her international career. She remains available for selection and can now concentrate on contributing with the bat and supporting the next captain with her experience.
Earlier in 2026, she became the most-capped player in women's international cricket. Her continued presence could give India valuable continuity as the team moves into a new leadership phase.
What the decision means for India Women
India have now confirmed the next phase of their white-ball leadership, with Mandhana taking charge of the ODI and T20I sides. Shafali Verma will support her as T20I vice-captain, while Deepti Sharma has been named ODI vice-captain.
The next captain will inherit a side with recent global and continental success, together with the expectations created by that record. Harmanpreet's availability as a player should make the handover smoother and preserve experience within the dressing room.
Key facts from Harmanpreet Kaur's captaincy
- Captained India in five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is.
- Led India to their first Women's ODI World Cup title in 2025.
- Won two Women's T20 Asia Cup titles as captain.
- Led India to two Asian Games cricket gold medals.
- Will continue playing for India after leaving the captaincy.
Leadership details were updated on 7 October 2026 after the BCCI confirmed Smriti Mandhana as India Women's full-time white-ball captain.