Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down as India Women’s Captain

Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the India women’s cricket team across all formats, bringing an end to a memorable leadership stint.

Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana is expected to take over as India’s new captain. However, the BCCI is also considering the option of having different captains for different formats.

The decision came after a review meeting in Guwahati involving Harmanpreet, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, Mandhana and head coach Amol Muzumdar.

Harmanpreet confirmed her decision in an emotional statement, saying, “Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team across all formats.”

She added, “This is not an easy decision. It carries years of memories, emotions, sacrifices, and moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

During her time as captain, Harmanpreet guided India to several major successes. Her achievements include an ICC ODI World Cup title, two Asian Games gold medals and four Asia Cup titles.

She also led India to a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. Under her leadership, India recorded 92 wins in T20Is and 30 wins in ODIs.

Reflecting on her leadership, Harmanpreet said she had given everything to the team and Indian women’s cricket.

“I have given everything I had to this team and to Indian women’s cricket,” she said. “As a captain, I have had to make difficult decisions. Decisions that were not always understood, not always easy, and sometimes came at a personal cost.”

She made it clear that every decision was taken with the team’s interests in mind, marking the end of an important chapter in Indian women’s cricket.

India’s next assignment is a white-ball series against Zimbabwe, which begins on October 16. The tour will feature three T20Is and three ODIs, with the captaincy transition expected to be one of the main talking points.