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By Chetanya Sarraf
Oct 06, 2026, 12:50 PM
Harmanpreet Kaur Gives Up India Women’s Captaincy
Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all three formats, bringing an important chapter of her leadership career to an end.
The 37-year-old announced her decision on Tuesday, October 6, through a post on Instagram. She said the decision was not easy and reflected years of memories, emotions, sacrifices and responsibilities associated with leading Indian women’s cricket.
Harmanpreet also made it clear that stepping down from captaincy does not mean the end of her international career. She will continue playing for India and now wants to focus on the game without the additional responsibilities that come with leadership.
Her decision comes after several years at the centre of India’s women’s cricket setup. During that period, she experienced major victories, difficult defeats and changes in the professional women’s game. Her continued presence as a player means the team will still have access to her experience.
Harmanpreet’s Decision
The BCCI held a review meeting in Guwahati to evaluate the team’s recent performance, following which Harmanpreet made her decision. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and head coach Amol Muzumdar also took part in the meeting.
In her statement, Harmanpreet reflected on the personal and professional demands of captaincy. She said she had given her time, effort and energy to the team and Indian women’s cricket, sometimes putting aside her individual performance and personal ambitions for the team’s interests.
She also acknowledged that captains have to make difficult decisions, some of which may not always be understood by everyone. According to Harmanpreet, her intention throughout her leadership journey was to make the team stronger and give players opportunities to develop confidence.
The veteran cricketer experienced both difficult and successful periods as captain. Defeats, criticism and doubts were part of the journey, but so were major victories and moments of pride while representing India.
Harmanpreet said she was leaving the captaincy with peace and confidence because she believes the Indian team has talent, character and a promising future.
By stepping away from captaincy, Harmanpreet can now concentrate on her individual contribution while allowing the management to develop a new leadership structure. Her experience remains valuable, particularly for younger members of the squad.
Her Leadership Era
Harmanpreet began her tenure as captain of India’s T20I team in 2016.
She later became the full-time ODI captain in 2022 after Mithali Raj retired from international cricket and subsequently took on the leadership role across formats.
One of the biggest achievements of her leadership came in 2025, when India won its maiden Women’s ODI World Cup. The victory marked a historic moment for Indian women’s cricket and made Harmanpreet the captain who led India to its first Women’s ODI World Cup title.
Her leadership also included India’s success at the 2026 Asian Games. India defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the women’s T20 gold-medal match to retain the title and secure another Asian Games gold.
Harmanpreet’s captaincy was not limited to major trophies. She also played an important role during a period when women’s cricket in India continued to attract greater attention, wider audiences and increased professional opportunities.
Over the years, Harmanpreet has become one of the most experienced figures in the Indian women’s setup. Her leadership experience across formats allowed her to guide younger players while handling the expectations associated with captaining India.
Her tenure also coincided with the rapid growth of women’s cricket in India. The Women’s Premier League created another major platform for players, while international women’s cricket gained increasing visibility.
She Will Keep Playing
Although Harmanpreet has stepped down as captain, she has confirmed that she will continue to represent India as a player.
This means the team can still benefit from her experience while she focuses more closely on her batting and other responsibilities on the field. Moving away from captaincy could also allow her to concentrate on her own performance without the additional tactical pressure associated with leading the side.
In her message, Harmanpreet thanked her teammates, coaches, support staff, management, the BCCI, her family and fans for supporting her throughout the highs and lows of her captaincy.
She also stressed that her connection with Indian cricket remains unchanged. Her decision ends her time as captain, but not her commitment to the national team.
The transition comes at an important stage for the side, with India having recently added another major title through its Asian Games success. The change in leadership will give the team an opportunity to build its next phase while retaining Harmanpreet’s experience within the playing group.
Her continued presence could also help younger players adjust to a new leadership structure. As a senior member of the squad, she can contribute through her performances and experience without carrying the additional pressure of leading every match.
For Harmanpreet, the next phase could provide greater freedom to manage her workload and concentrate on important matches. Her ability to contribute with the bat and her understanding of international cricket remain valuable to the team.
What Comes Next
The BCCI will now have to decide who takes over the captaincy across the three formats. Smriti Mandhana is among the players being discussed as a possible successor, but an official appointment remains a decision for the board.
The change is likely to begin a new leadership phase for Indian women’s cricket. The next captain will inherit a side that has already achieved major success but will also face the challenge of maintaining that momentum.
For Harmanpreet, the focus now shifts from leading the team to contributing as a player. Her statement indicated that she wants to return to the game with the freedom to focus on cricket itself.
Her decision closes a defining leadership chapter in Indian women’s cricket while leaving the door open for another phase of her career on the field.
The timing also gives the team an opportunity to prepare for future international assignments with a fresh leadership approach. Harmanpreet’s experience can remain valuable during that transition, particularly as younger players take on greater responsibility.
The appointment of a new captain will be closely watched because India has built considerable momentum in recent years. Maintaining consistency while developing the next generation of players will be an important task for the team management.
For now, Harmanpreet’s message is clear. She has stepped away from the captaincy, but she has not walked away from Indian cricket. Her international career continues, and her experience could remain an important part of India’s plans as the team moves into a new era.
Source: ANI
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