Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down as India Captain Across All Formats

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Tuesday, 6 October 2026

Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all formats, bringing her decade-long leadership era to an end. The 37-year-old announced the decision on Instagram on October 6, 2026, but confirmed that she will continue to represent India as a player.

Key Highlights:

• Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India captain across Tests, ODIs and T20Is
• The ex-India captain leaves after leading India to its first Women’s ODI World Cup title in 2025
• Smriti Mandhana is among the leading contenders to succeed her

The ex-India captain leaves the leadership role after one of the most significant periods in Indian women’s cricket history. Her tenure included India’s maiden Women’s ODI World Cup triumph in 2025 and consecutive Asian Games gold medals in 2023 and 2026.

In her Instagram post, Harmanpreet reflected on the sacrifices and responsibilities that came with captaincy. She wrote, “Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team across all formats.” She added that the decision was difficult but said she was leaving the role with peace and pride.

“Captaincy may end today, but my love for Indian cricket never will,” she wrote, signalling her intention to continue contributing to the national side.

Harmanpreet led India in five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is. She became the full-time T20I captain in 2018 and took charge of the ODI side in 2022 following Mithali Raj’s retirement. Her 92 T20I victories remain the most by a captain in women’s T20I cricket, while she also became the first player in cricket history to captain in more than 150 T20Is.

Her greatest achievement came in November 2025, when she guided India to its first senior Women’s ODI World Cup title. India defeated Australia in the semi-final before overcoming South Africa in the final. The triumph also made Harmanpreet only the third Indian captain, after Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni, to win a 50-over World Cup.

Her leadership also produced success beyond bilateral cricket. India secured Asian Games gold under her captaincy in 2023 and 2026, while the team won silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She also led India to four Asia Cup titles.

However, her T20I leadership came under increasing scrutiny after India failed to reach the knockouts at two successive T20 World Cups. Reports suggest the BCCI had offered her the opportunity to continue as ODI and Test captain, but Harmanpreet opted to relinquish leadership across all three formats. The board has not officially disclosed a reason for the decision.

Attention now turns to her successor. Smriti Mandhana is widely viewed as the frontrunner, with Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh also among the names discussed.

With Harmanpreet remaining available as a player, India’s selectors now face the task of shaping a new leadership structure while building on the strong foundation established during her tenure.