Harmanpreet Kaur. Photo: Wikipedia
Mumbai: Harmanpreet Kaur announced on Tuesday that she is stepping down as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all formats. The decision came a day after a Board of Control for Cricket in India review meeting in Guwahati.
The 37-year-old posted a lengthy statement on her Instagram account confirming the move. She had led India in five Tests, 51 one-day internationals and 155 T20 internationals.
The review meeting was held on Monday, October 5, 2026. It was chaired by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and head coach Amol Muzumdar attended the meeting.
The meeting was called to evaluate the team’s trajectory over the past few months. It came after India failed to qualify for the knockout stage of the Women’s T20 World Cup in England earlier this year. The team had bounced back with back-to-back titles, winning the Women’s Asia Cup in the UAE and the gold medal at the Asian Games in Japan.
In her statement, Harmanpreet said: ‘Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team across all formats. 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.’
She also said: ‘I have given everything I had to this team and to Indian women’s cricket — my blood, my sweat, my time, and many times, a part of my own game and personal ambitions.’
Harmanpreet added: ‘I leave the captaincy today with a heart full of emotions, but also with PEACE. Because I genuinely believe My team is in a good place. A team with talent, character, belief and a future that I am incredibly excited to watch and be a part of. I feel I have done my duty.’
She concluded: ‘Now, I’m ready to play for the love of the game again. Captaincy ends. The journey continues.’
Harmanpreet took over the T20 captaincy in 2016. She was elevated to ODI captaincy in 2022 and became the all-format leader in 2023. Under her leadership, India won its maiden ODI World Cup in November last year. Her last match as captain was on September 22, when India secured a second successive Asian Games title against Sri Lanka.
Former India captain Diana Edulji welcomed the decision. ‘It is a good decision she has taken in the interest of the future of women’s cricket, by giving enough time to the new captain and the team to gel under her captaincy,’ Edulji told Cricbuzz. ‘I wish her all the best for her future. She has a few years left, whichever format she chooses to play. She should enjoy the remaining time in her career.’
The BCCI is expected to build the team around Smriti Mandhana, who has been Harmanpreet’s long-time deputy. A formal announcement of the new captain is expected when the selectors meet to pick the squad for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe.
The women’s selection committee, led by Amita Sharma, is expected to meet on Tuesday, October 6, to pick the squad for the six-match white-ball series against Zimbabwe. The series will be Zimbabwe Women’s first bilateral tour of India. The T20Is will be played in Raipur on October 16, 18 and 20. The ODIs will be held in Vadodara on October 23, 26 and 28. The ODI leg will be part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2025-29.
Harmanpreet will continue to be available for selection as a player. She said she is now ready to play for the love of the game again.
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