Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India women's cricket captain

Harmanpreet Kaur announced on Tuesday that she is stepping down as captain of the Indian women's cricket team across all formats.

Her Statement

The 37-year-old shared a long statement on her Instagram account to confirm the news. She is the first and only player to lead India to victory in the Women's World Cup and stands as the country's most successful captain in women's cricket. In her note, she mentioned that she had to put aside her personal growth and individual performance to always put the team first. She also thanked her teammates, coaches, support staff, management, the BCCI, family members, and fans.

Context

Player resignations from leadership roles in sports often open up opportunities for a new generation of players to take charge and guide the team forward. The Board of Control for Cricket in India manages the selection of national team captains and oversees all major decisions regarding the squad. Earlier report (2026-10-06 15:16): Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as the captain of the Indian women's cricket team. Her departure from the leadership role follows a BCCI review meeting held in Guwahati to assess the team's performance over recent months, which was attended by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, head coach Amol Majumdar, Kaur herself, and Smriti Mandhana. Smriti Mandhana will now take over as the new captain of the team.

Career and Journey

Kaur took over the captaincy in 2016. During her tenure, she led India to an ODI World Cup title and an Asian Games gold medal. In a social media post, she reflected on her journey, noting that she put the team above personal performances and had to make tough decisions for the growth of the squad. Her early years in cricket involved financial hardships, using cheaper bats or hockey sticks, and facing local mockery, but she received crucial support from her father and coach Kamaldesh Singh Sodhi, who offered her free training. She made her international debut in 2009 in an ODI against Pakistan and later became the first Indian woman to play in a foreign T20 league.

Context

Captaincy changes in cricket often follow a period of intense performance review, especially after major tournaments where results fall short of expectations. As the team looks ahead, the transition to a new leader marks a significant shift in the squad's direction.