Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down as India Captain
Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all formats with immediate effect, ending a leadership tenure that included India’s maiden senior Women’s ODI World Cup triumph and multiple major tournament titles.
Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down as India Captain
The 37-year-old announced her decision on October 6, saying she believed the Indian team was in a strong position and that the time was right for a leadership transition.
Harmanpreet first captained India in T20Is in 2016 and later became the team’s full-time leader in the shortest format. She took over the ODI and Test captaincy following Mithali Raj’s retirement from international cricket in 2022.
She confirmed that although she was relinquishing the captaincy, she would continue playing for India.
World Cup-Winning Captain Ends Leadership Tenure
Harmanpreet’s period as captain culminated in India winning the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, the country’s first senior women’s ODI world title.
India also won the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup under her leadership and secured a second consecutive Asian Games women’s cricket gold medal in September.
Her tenure included several landmark performances as India became an increasingly consistent force across formats and global tournaments.
India Yet to Announce New Women’s Captain
A successor has not yet been officially announced.
Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana is among the senior members of the current squad and has previously led India in Harmanpreet’s absence, but any permanent appointment will require formal confirmation.
The leadership change begins a new phase for the Indian women’s team as it prepares for upcoming bilateral series and major ICC tournaments.
