States » NorthPosted at: Oct 6 2026 1:53PM


Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India women’s captain, says decision ‘not easy’

Neeraj Bali
Chandigarh, Oct 6 (UNI) Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all formats, ending a leadership tenure highlighted by India’s maiden Women’s ODI World Cup triumph, but said she would continue playing for the national side.
The 37-year-old announced her decision on Tuesday, saying relinquishing the captaincy had been difficult after years of leading India at the highest level.
“Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team across all formats. This is not an easy decision,” Harmanpreet said in a social media post.
“It carries years of memories, emotions, sacrifices, and moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Harmanpreet made clear that the decision did not mark the end of her international career, saying she remained committed to representing India as a player.
The Punjab-born cricketer took over as India's T20I captain in 2016 and became the team's full-time ODI and Test captain in 2022 following Mithali Raj's retirement from international cricket.
Her tenure reached its high point when India won their maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title in 2025.
The decision comes following a review of the Indian women’s team by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet’s long-time deputy, is among the leading contenders to take over, though the BCCI has yet to formally announce her successor.
Harmanpreet’s departure as captain marks a significant transition for Indian women’s cricket, with the team now expected to enter a new leadership cycle while retaining one of its most experienced players in the dressing room.
Meanwhile, a reporting team visited Harmanpreet’s family residence in Punjab seeking a reaction to the announcement, but no family member was available at the house.
Her father, Harminder Singh, also could not immediately be reached by telephone for comment.
Harmanpreet, one of the most prominent figures in Indian women’s cricket, said stepping away from the captaincy would not diminish her commitment to the national team.
She said she would continue to wear the India jersey “with the same passion, pride and commitment” as a player.
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