Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India women's cricket captain

Thu Oct 08 2026 17:15:50 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

After 16 seasons at the helm, India’s star all‑rounder Harmanpreet Kaur resigns as skipper, handing the reins to Smriti Mandhana amid the country’s rising success.

Harmanpreet Kaur, who transformed India’s women’s cricket with a 2017 World Cup‑semi‑final century and led the side to its first World Cup title in 2025, announced her resignation as captain in a tearful Instagram post. The BCCI opted for 30‑year‑old opener Smriti Mandhana to succeed her across all formats, citing a need for youthful energy and a dip in Kaur’s personal form. Kaur’s legacy—spanning record victories, grassroots influence and inspirational leadership—continues to shape Indian women’s cricket. The move sparked debate among former players about balancing experience with emerging talent. As Kaur focuses on rediscovering her playing game, India looks ahead under Mandhana’s leadership.

Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India's women's cricket captain

After 16 seasons at the helm, the 37‑year‑old all‑rounder announced her resignation from the India women’s skipper role in a tearful Instagram post, turning the page on a historic chapter that saw the team win its first world title.

Kaur’s journey climbed from a modest upbringing in Punjab to joining Railways and later Mumbai, where better facilities helped her sharpen her middle‑order bat, off‑spin and fielding. Her 2017 semi‑final century over Australia ignited a national passion for women’s cricket and laid a foundation for future triumphs.

Under her guidance India collected the 2025 Women’s World Cup, the Asia Cup, and the huge‑audience‑posterised Asian Games, cementing a legacy that few could match. But a dip in personal form and a growing desire to nurture younger talent saw the BCCI name 30‑year‑old opener Smriti Mandhana as the new skipper across all formats.

In her statement Kaur said, “I feel I have done my duty. I gave this team everything I had. Now it is time for me to turn the page. Blood. Sweat. Sacrifice. Pride. I gave it all. Now I am ready to play for the love of the game again.” Her focus now shifts to rediscovering her playing game free from leadership responsibilities.

The move has sparked debate among former cricketers, with some hailing it as a necessary step to inject youthful energy, while others worry that Kaur’s experience is irreplaceable given the still‑developing depth of the women’s talent pool in India.

Whatever the next chapter holds, Kaur leaves a record of record‑breaking victories, grassroots influence and inspirational leadership that will continue to shape Indian women’s cricket for years to come.