SportsPosted at: Oct 6 2026 4:13PM


Harmanpreet calls time on captaincy, Mandhana tipped as successor

Tridib Baparnash
Guwahati, Oct 6 (UNI) India’s World Cup-winning captain Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down from the leadership role across all three formats, saying she has fulfilled her responsibilities as captain and is now “ready to play for the love of the game again.”
The 37-year-old announced her decision on Tuesday following a BCCI review meeting here to assess the team’s recent performances and future direction. The meeting was chaired by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and attended by Harmanpreet, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and head coach Amol Muzumdar.
"Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women's Cricket Team across all formats," Harmanpreet, who has been enduring a lean patch for a while now, wrote in an Instagram post. "This is not an easy decision. It carries years of memories, emotions, sacrifices, and moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life," added the right-hander, who had earlier spoken about wanting to lead the team till at least the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics for which India have already qualified.
Harmanpreet took charge of India’s T20I team in 2016, became ODI captain in 2022 and assumed leadership across all formats in 2023. She had previously expressed her desire to continue as captain until at least the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, for which India have already qualified.
“I feel I have done my duty. I gave this team everything I had. I carried the responsibility with pride, and I will always be grateful for the privilege of leading Indian women's cricket,” the Moga-born player said.
Despite stepping away from captaincy, Harmanpreet will continue to represent India as a player. Reflecting on her time as leader, she said she often put personal ambitions aside to prioritise the team.
“Now, it is time for me to turn the page. Captaincy may end today, but my love for Indian cricket never will. Blood. Sweat. Sacrifice. Pride. I gave it all. Now, I'm ready to play for the love of the game again. Captaincy ends. The journey continues," she said in her post, which was accompanied with a picture of her facing the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground.
In her emotional statement, the veteran batter said she gave the team everything she had as its captain and often put aside her personal goals to fulfill her duties.
"...my blood, my sweat, my time, and many times, a part of my own game and personal ambitions. There were moments when I had to put my individual performance, my own growth, and what I wanted for myself aside, because I believed the team had to come first," she wrote.
Harmanpreet’s tenure included some of the biggest achievements in Indian women’s cricket. She led India to their maiden ODI World Cup title last year and a second consecutive Asian Games gold medal. India also won silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games under her leadership. She captained the side in five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is.
However, India’s failure to reach the semifinals of the T20 World Cup earlier this year, coupled with Harmanpreet’s inconsistent returns with the bat, had led to growing calls for a change in leadership. Former India captain Diana Edulji was among those who backed Mandhana for the role.
“As a captain, I have had to make difficult decisions. Decisions that were not always understood, not always easy, and sometimes came at a personal cost. "But every decision I made was with one intention - to make this TEAM better and to give other players the opportunity to grow, believe in themselves and become the best versions of themselves.”
However, India’s failure to reach the semifinals of the T20 World Cup earlier this year, coupled with Harmanpreet’s inconsistent returns with the bat, had led to growing calls for a change in leadership. Former India captain Diana Edulji was among those who backed Mandhana for the role.
Harmanpreet said she was stepping down with confidence in the team’s future.
“I have seen it all. I have seen the lowest moments, the heartbreak, the criticism, the doubts and the days when nothing seemed to go our way. And I have also experienced the highest highs - the victories, the celebrations, the pride of representing our country, and the moments that made every sacrifice worth it,” Harmanpreet said.
She said she was leaving the captaincy "with a heart full of emotions, but also with peace,” believing the team had the talent and character to move forward.
Smriti likely successor
Mandhana, 30, is widely expected to succeed Harmanpreet. The senior opener already captains Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League and has led the franchise to two titles in four seasons. She was also present at Monday’s meeting with the BCCI secretary and Harmanpreet.
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Tags: #Harmanpreet calls time on captaincy# Mandhana tipped as successor
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