GUWAHATI — Harmanpreet Kaur has resigned as captain of the Indian women's national cricket team across all three formats. The 37-year-old announced her decision following a review meeting with Board of Control for Cricket in India officials in Guwahati. “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 said.

She said: “I leave the captaincy today with a heart full of emotions, but also with PEACE. Because I genuinely believe my team is in a good place.” She added: “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.”

She reflected on the difficult choices required by the role. “I have given everything I had to this team and to Indian women's cricket - my blood, my sweat, my time, and many times, a part of my own game and personal ambitions,” she said.

Kaur met with vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, head coach Amol Muzumdar, and Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Devajit Saikia in Guwahati prior to the announcement. Smriti Mandhana is expected to take over as captain of the Indian women's cricket team. Mandhana is 30 years old.

The BCCI has scheduled a meeting of the women’s selectors under Amita to pick the squad for the Zimbabwe series. India is scheduled to play three T20s and three ODIs against Zimbabwe starting 16 October.

She last captained India on 22 September in a match against Sri Lanka at the Asian Games. India won the gold medal at the Asian Games under her captaincy. India exited the T20 World Cup in the group stage earlier this month. She led India to a Test victory against England at Lord's in July.

In the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup, she led India to their first-ever World Cup victory. Under her captaincy, the Indian women's team achieved its first bilateral Women's One Day International (WODI) away series win against England since 1999 in 2022. Under her leadership, the team secured the first-ever Test victory over Australia in 2023.

She captained the Indian team that won the Women's Asia Cup in 2012, 2016 and 2022. She was a member of the Indian team that won the silver medal in the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

India reached the semifinals of the 2018 and 2023 Women’s T20 World Cups under her captaincy. India finished as runners-up in the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup under her leadership. According to reports, during her captaincy, the Indian women's team won 68% of their T20 International matches.

She first captained India in 2012. She assumed the role of permanent T20I captain in 2016. She became ODI captain in 2022.

She became the all-format leader in 2023. She made her T20I and ODI debuts for India in 2009. She has been recognized with the Arjuna Award in 2017 for her contributions to Indian cricket.

Why It Matters

Her resignation marks the end of a 14-year tenure that began in 2012 and evolved into all-format leadership by 2023. Her departure follows a period of achievement, including India's first-ever ODI World Cup victory in 2025 and historic Test wins against Australia and England. The transition occurs as the team prepares for an upcoming series against Zimbabwe, with vice-captain Smriti Mandhana positioned to assume the leadership role.

The change in command affects immediate selection processes, with the BCCI scheduling selector meetings to finalize the squad for the October fixtures. Her record of leading in more than 150 T20 Internationals and scoring over 4,000 ODI runs establishes a high benchmark for her successor. Her continued presence as a player ensures that her experience remains available to the team, even as she steps back from the responsibilities of captaincy.

Timeline

The official record states that she stepped down as captain of the Indian Women's Cricket Team across all formats on October 6, 2026, following a BCCI review meeting in Guwahati.

What's New

Additional reporting confirms that she stated, “Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women's Cricket Team across all formats.” There is no earlier incident of her resigning as captain of the Indian Women's Cricket Team across all formats on record.

Further details indicate that she has scored over 4,000 runs in One-Day Internationals. She is the first Indian female cricketer to captain her team in more than 150 T20 International matches. In the 2023 Women's T20 World Cup, she led India to the semifinals, where they lost to England. In 2022, she became the first woman to lead India in more than 100 One-Day Internationals.