7 October 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all formats, bringing an end to her long leadership tenure. The 37-year-old announced her decision on October 6, 2026, while confirming that she will continue to represent India as a player.
Harmanpreet took over as India’s regular T20I captain in 2016 and became the full-time captain across Tests and ODIs in 2022 following the retirement of Mithali Raj. During her tenure, she became one of the most experienced leaders in women’s international cricket.
Her biggest achievement as captain came in November 2025, when she led India to their first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup title on home soil. India defeated South Africa in the final to create history, with Harmanpreet becoming the first Indian women’s captain to lift the 50-over World Cup trophy.
Harmanpreet also guided India to major achievements in other competitions. The team won gold at the Asian Games in 2022 and successfully defended the title at the 2026 Asian Games. India also finished runners-up at the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup and won silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games during her leadership period.
The veteran cricketer captained India in five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is. She also became the first player, male or female, to captain a team in more than 150 T20 internationals. Earlier this year, she became the most-capped player in women’s international cricket.
In her announcement, Harmanpreet described the decision as difficult but said she believed the Indian team was in a good position for the future. She thanked the Board of Control for Cricket in India, selectors, coaching staff, teammates and supporters for their backing throughout her captaincy.
She also made it clear that stepping down from the leadership role does not mean the end of her international career. Harmanpreet intends to continue playing for India and contribute to the team under the new leadership.
The BCCI acknowledged her contribution and highlighted several important moments from her leadership journey. The board said her World Cup triumph in 2025 was the defining achievement of her captaincy and recognised her role in the growth of Indian women’s cricket.
Harmanpreet’s leadership journey began earlier than her regular captaincy stint. In 2012, she led India in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup final after Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami were unavailable because of injuries. India defeated Pakistan in that match, giving Harmanpreet her first major leadership opportunity.
Her individual performances have also been an important part of her international career. One of her most memorable innings came during the 2017 Women’s World Cup semi-final against Australia, when she scored an unbeaten 171 to help India reach the final.
As captain, Harmanpreet experienced both major successes and setbacks. India reached the final of the 2020 T20 World Cup, secured silver at the Commonwealth Games and eventually achieved their first Women’s World Cup title in 2025.
Her final assignment as captain came at the 2026 Asian Games, where India defeated Sri Lanka in the final to retain their gold medal. That victory gave Harmanpreet another major title before she decided to hand over the captaincy.
Following her decision, Smriti Mandhana was appointed as India’s new captain. Mandhana had previously served as Harmanpreet’s deputy and had experience leading India in both T20Is and ODIs. She has also led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Women’s Premier League titles.
Mandhana’s first assignment as full-time captain will come against Zimbabwe in a three-match T20I series beginning October 16, followed by a three-match ODI series.
The change marks the beginning of a new chapter for Indian women’s cricket. Harmanpreet will remain part of the squad as a senior player, while Mandhana takes responsibility for leading the team across formats.
Harmanpreet leaves the captaincy after more than a decade of leadership in the T20 format and several years as India’s all-format skipper. Her tenure included India’s first Women’s World Cup triumph, multiple Asian Games successes and a period of continued growth for the national team.
With Harmanpreet continuing as a player, India will retain the experience of their former captain while transitioning to a new leadership era under Mandhana.