Smriti Mandhana has been appointed the new captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, marking a significant change in leadership for Indian women’s cricket. The Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed the appointment on October 6, 2026, shortly after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the captaincy.
The BCCI said Mandhana will take on the responsibility of leading the Indian team as its full time white ball captain. She will therefore be in charge of India’s One Day International and Twenty20 International teams. Mandhana has already gained experience leading India at the international level, having captained the side in 18 T20Is and four ODIs before receiving the full time responsibility.
Mandhana has been an important member of the Indian women’s team since making her international debut in 2013. Over more than a decade, she has established herself as one of the leading batters in women’s international cricket. Her experience across formats was one of the factors highlighted by the BCCI while announcing her appointment.
The new captain also brings significant leadership experience from domestic and franchise cricket. Mandhana has been the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League and led the franchise to WPL titles in 2024 and 2026. The BCCI specifically pointed to her leadership record and experience when announcing her appointment.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision brings an important chapter of her leadership career to an end. The BCCI acknowledged her contribution to Indian cricket after she stepped down from the captaincy across all formats. The board said Harmanpreet had been a central figure in the growth of Indian women’s cricket and had led the team through significant moments.
Harmanpreet, however, is not retiring from international cricket. She will continue to represent India as a player. This means the Indian team will retain the experience of one of its senior players while beginning a new leadership phase under Mandhana.
Mandhana expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to lead India. She described the responsibility as a special honour and thanked the BCCI, selectors, teammates and supporters for their trust. She also acknowledged Harmanpreet’s contribution as captain and recognised the commitment she had shown during her leadership tenure.
The leadership change comes at an important stage for the Indian women’s team. Mandhana will now be expected to guide the side through upcoming white ball assignments while continuing her responsibilities as one of the team’s senior batters.
Her first major assignment as full time captain will come in India’s upcoming home series against Zimbabwe. According to the BCCI schedule, India will play three T20Is in Raipur beginning on October 16, followed by three ODIs in Vadodara from October 23. Mandhana has been named captain for both squads.
The Zimbabwe series will therefore provide the first opportunity to assess the new leadership combination in competitive international cricket. Shafali Verma has been named vice captain for the T20I squad, while Deepti Sharma has been appointed vice captain for the ODI team. Harmanpreet Kaur remains part of both squads as a player.
Mandhana’s appointment also represents a continuation of the leadership pathway that she has followed in recent years. She has already captained India on several occasions and has developed additional experience through franchise cricket. Her two WPL titles with Royal Challengers Bengaluru have strengthened her credentials as a captain.
The BCCI leadership has expressed confidence in Mandhana’s ability to take Indian women’s cricket forward. BCCI President Mithun Manhas highlighted her experience and understanding of the game, while Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia said Mandhana had developed into one of the most experienced players in the Indian setup.
The transition also allows Harmanpreet Kaur to continue contributing to the team without the additional responsibilities associated with captaincy. Her experience remains valuable to a squad that is entering a new phase under Mandhana.
For Mandhana, the new role represents the biggest leadership responsibility of her international career. She will now have to balance her own performance as a top order batter with the demands of leading the team, managing players and making tactical decisions during international matches.
Indian women’s cricket has therefore entered a new leadership era, with Mandhana taking charge of the white ball teams and Harmanpreet continuing as an experienced member of the playing group. The upcoming Zimbabwe series will be the first major test of this transition and will offer an early indication of how the team develops under its new captain.
