New Delhi, October 6, 2026: India women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down from captaincy across all three formats with immediate effect, bringing an end to her tenure as the team’s all-format leader.
The 37-year-old announced her decision on Tuesday following a BCCI review meeting in Guwahati. She will, however, continue to represent India as a player across Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
Kaur Announces Decision After BCCI Review
Harmanpreet shared the decision through a social media post, describing it as a difficult step after years of leadership, memories and responsibilities.
She said she was leaving the captaincy with a sense of peace and expressed confidence in the team’s future. She also made it clear that stepping down as captain does not mark the end of her international career.
“Captaincy ends. The journey continues,” she said in her message.
The decision followed a review meeting involving BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, head coach Amol Muzumdar, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet.
Led India to Historic World Cup Triumph
Harmanpreet’s tenure included one of the biggest achievements in the history of Indian women’s cricket.
Under her leadership, India won their maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title in 2025, defeating South Africa in the final on home soil. The victory made Harmanpreet only the third Indian captain, after Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni, to lead India to an ODI World Cup title.
She also guided India to another gold medal in women’s cricket at the 2026 Asian Games, adding to the team’s achievements under her leadership.
A Decade at the Helm
Harmanpreet became India’s full-time T20I captain in 2016. She later took charge of the ODI side in 2022 and became the team’s all-format captain in 2023.
According to News On AIR, she led India in five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is. She also became the most-capped player in women’s international cricket earlier this year.
Her leadership period included major successes in women’s cricket, including India’s World Cup triumph and Asian Games gold medals.
Will Continue Playing for India
Harmanpreet has confirmed that she remains committed to Indian cricket and will continue playing for the national side.
Her decision therefore marks a change in leadership rather than an international retirement. The BCCI is expected to determine the team’s next captain as India moves into a new phase.
For Harmanpreet, the focus now shifts back to her role as an experienced player, with the veteran cricketer looking to continue contributing to the Indian women’s team on the field.
