Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the Indian women's cricket team across all three formats, bringing an end to one of the longest leadership tenures in Indian women's cricket. The 37 year old announced her decision on October 6, 2026, through a social media post after a recent review meeting involving the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The International Cricket Council has also confirmed that Harmanpreet has stepped down from the captaincy with immediate effect.
Harmanpreet's decision marks a major change for the Indian women's team. She first became India's full time T20I captain in 2016. Following the retirement of Mithali Raj, she took charge of the ODI side in 2022 and later became the all format captain. During her tenure, she led India through several important international campaigns and established herself as one of the most experienced leaders in women's international cricket.
One of the biggest achievements of Harmanpreet's captaincy came in 2025, when India won their maiden ICC Women's Cricket World Cup title. The historic triumph made her the first Indian women's captain to lead the country to the 50 over World Cup title. She also guided India to gold at the 2026 Asian Games, adding another major international achievement to her leadership record.
Harmanpreet has also been an important figure in India's T20I cricket. According to Reuters, she captained India in five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is. Her decade long leadership of the T20I side made her one of the most experienced captains in women's international cricket. Her contribution extended beyond captaincy, as she remained a key all rounder and middle order batter for the national team.
In her announcement, Harmanpreet described the decision as difficult and reflected on the memories, sacrifices and responsibilities associated with leading the Indian team. She said she had given everything she could to the side and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the country. Importantly, her resignation from the captaincy does not mean retirement from international cricket. She is expected to continue playing for India as a player.
The immediate focus now turns to the question of who will succeed Harmanpreet as India's next captain. Smriti Mandhana has emerged as the leading candidate and is widely viewed as the front runner. Mandhana has served as Harmanpreet's deputy and has gained considerable leadership experience through domestic and franchise cricket. However, her appointment has not yet been officially confirmed by the BCCI.
Mandhana's leadership credentials have also grown through her performances in the Women's Premier League. She has captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru and has played an important role in the team's success. Before Harmanpreet stepped down, several former players had already discussed whether the time was right for Mandhana to take over the national captaincy. Her experience as vice captain has also placed her in a strong position for the role.
However, Mandhana is not the only name being discussed. According to reports, all rounder Deepti Sharma, batter Jemimah Rodrigues and wicketkeeper batter Richa Ghosh are also among the players who could be considered for the leadership position. The final decision will depend on the BCCI and the team's long term plans. Therefore, reports describing Mandhana as the confirmed captain should be treated cautiously until an official announcement is made.
Harmanpreet's departure from the captaincy comes after a period in which Indian women's cricket achieved several important milestones. Her leadership helped the team win the 2025 Women's World Cup and the 2026 Asian Games gold medal. She also led India through multiple major international tournaments and helped maintain continuity during a period of significant growth in women's cricket.
The captaincy transition is therefore likely to be closely watched by Indian cricket supporters. If Mandhana is eventually appointed, she will inherit a team with significant recent success and high expectations. Her leadership will be tested across all formats, particularly as India continues to build towards future global tournaments.
For Harmanpreet, the change could allow her to concentrate more closely on her role as a senior player. She has stated that she intends to continue playing for India, meaning her experience could remain valuable to the team even after stepping away from leadership duties. A transition from captain to senior player could also give the next captain access to Harmanpreet's experience within the dressing room.
The BCCI is now expected to finalise the new leadership structure for the women's team. Until the official announcement, Smriti Mandhana remains the leading reported candidate rather than a confirmed captain. The change represents the beginning of a new phase for Indian women's cricket, while Harmanpreet's decade long contribution as captain will remain an important part of the team's recent history.
