Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down as India Women’s Captain Across All Formats

Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of India’s women’s cricket team across all three formats, ending a leadership tenure that included the country’s first senior women’s ODI World Cup title.

The 37-year-old announced the decision on October 6, saying she would continue playing for India but would no longer carry the captaincy. The International Cricket Council confirmed that the resignation takes immediate effect. Kaur had led India’s T20I side since 2016 and became the full-time ODI and Test captain in 2022 after Mithali Raj’s retirement.

## A captaincy defined by historic milestones

Kaur’s biggest achievement came in 2025, when India won its first Women’s Cricket World Cup. The triumph made her the first Indian woman to lead the senior national team to an ICC World Cup title and became a defining moment in the growth of the women’s game in the country.

Her leadership record also included major success in multi-sport competition. India won gold at the 2022 and 2026 Asian Games during the broader period in which Kaur was a central figure in the national team. She also captained India through multiple Asia Cup campaigns and remained one of the most experienced players in the squad.

Kaur’s longevity was another significant part of her tenure. Reuters reported that she captained India in five Tests, 51 One-Day Internationals and 155 Twenty20 Internationals. Her 155 T20I matches as captain made her the most-capped captain in the format.

## Why the decision matters

The change comes at an important point for India’s women’s team. Kaur’s captaincy combined a long period of continuity with some of the most important achievements in Indian women’s cricket. Her decision now creates an opening for a new leadership group while allowing Kaur to remain involved as a player.

Kaur’s announcement did not signal an international retirement. Instead, she said she intended to continue her cricket career without the additional responsibility of leading the side. That distinction means India can still draw on her experience while beginning the process of establishing its next captain.

The timing also follows a period in which questions about the team’s direction had increased. India entered 2026 as the reigning ODI world champions, but the team has faced the normal pressure that follows a major tournament victory. Kaur’s decision therefore changes the leadership structure without removing one of the squad’s most experienced players.

## What happens next for India

The immediate question for the Board of Control for Cricket in India will be who takes over the captaincy across the formats. Smriti Mandhana is among the senior players who has previously served in leadership roles, but the final decision remains with the BCCI.

For Kaur, the next phase will be different but potentially significant. She will remain available as a player, giving India the option of using her batting experience and knowledge of international cricket while a new captain settles into the role.

Her departure from the captaincy closes one of the most consequential leadership chapters in Indian women’s cricket. The World Cup victory of 2025 will remain the defining achievement of her tenure, while her decision to continue playing means her international career is not yet over. The next captain will inherit a team with major recent success but also the challenge of sustaining it after one of its most influential leaders has stepped aside.