Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down as India Women’s Captain

Harmanpreet Kaur, aged 37, stepped down as captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team across all formats on 6 October 2026. She announced the decision through a statement on her Instagram account after a BCCI review meeting in Guwahati.

Captaincy Timeline in Indian Women’s Cricket

Harmanpreet first led India in a T20 match in 2012 against Pakistan in Guangzhou. She took over the T20I captaincy in 2016, became India’s ODI captain in 2022 after Mithali Raj retired, and became the all-format captain in 2023.

In women’s international cricket, a captain leads the team in Tests, One Day Internationals, and Twenty20 Internationals. The Indian women’s team has used separate leadership structures in different periods, including format-specific captains and an all-format captain.

Major Results Under Her Leadership

Harmanpreet led India in 211 international matches. India won 30 of 51 ODIs under her captaincy, 92 of 155 T20Is, and four of five Tests. Her captaincy period included India’s maiden ODI World Cup title in November 2025 and a second consecutive Asian Games gold medal in women’s T20 cricket in 2026.

The Asian Games cricket competition has been part of the multi-sport event since the 2010s, and women’s cricket was included in the T20 format. The ODI World Cup is the premier 50-over tournament organised by the International Cricket Council for women’s national teams.

Leadership Transition in Indian Women’s Cricket

The Guwahati review meeting included BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, and head coach Amol Muzumdar. Smriti Mandhana is a leading candidate for the next full-time captaincy role across formats.

Important Facts for Exams

• Harmanpreet Kaur made her India captaincy debut in a T20 match in 2012.
• She became India’s full-time ODI captain in 2022 after Mithali Raj retired.
• India won its maiden women’s ODI World Cup in November 2025 under her captaincy.
• India won consecutive Asian Games gold medals in women’s T20 cricket by 2026.

Harmanpreet Kaur has led India in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, and her international captaincy record includes 211 matches. The next full-time captain of the Indian women’s team across formats has not been formally named.