Harmanpreet Kaur quits as India women's captain; Smriti Mandhana named successor
Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the India women's cricket team after a Board of Control for Cricket in India review meeting, with Smriti Mandhana appointed to lead the side across all formats, the change confirmed on 7 October 2026.
Harmanpreet's decision brings to an end an era that began to capture public attention after her century against Australia in the semi-final of the 2017 Women's ODI World Cup and culminated in India winning the tournament in 2025. Less than a year after the World Cup triumph, and within weeks of victories in the Asia Cup and the Asian Games, she relinquished the captaincy. Board secretary Devajit Saikia, coach Amol Muzumdar, Harmanpreet and Mandhana attended the review meeting at which the leadership change was ratified.
The handover was not entirely smooth: reports said the 37-year-old Harmanpreet was prepared to give up the T20 captaincy immediately but wanted to continue leading in One-Day Internationals and Tests so younger players could benefit from her experience. The BCCI instead chose the 30-year-old Mandhana, citing a preference for a younger captain. Observers noted a similarity to the board's recent decision to replace Suryakumar Yadav as men's T20 captain with Shreyas Iyer.
Questions about Harmanpreet's leadership intensified after India's below-par showing at the T20 World Cup in England, and her own poor batting form increased pressure on selectors. Approaching her 38th birthday and after nearly a decade as captain, Harmanpreet faced rising scrutiny over whether she should continue in the role.
Views among former players diverged. Diana Edulji said Harmanpreet "had done everything that could reasonably have been expected of her and that it was time for a younger captain to take over," while former captain Anjum Chopra argued Harmanpreet's experience remained invaluable and that she should stay on. Sensing the BCCI's inclination toward change, Harmanpreet opted to step down during the review meeting and announced her decision on Instagram: "I feel I have done my duty. I gave this team everything I had," she wrote. "Now, it is time for me to turn the page… 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."
Harmanpreet's career spans more than two decades and includes a route from Moga in Punjab to national recognition after joining the Railways, a move facilitated by Diana Edulji, and relocating to Mumbai. She made her India debut in 2009 at the age of 20, began as an all-rounder and later established herself as an explosive middle-order batter, off-spinner and sharp fielder. Her century in the 2017 World Cup semi-final helped change public interest in women's cricket in India.
She succeeded Mithali Raj as T20 captain in 2016, took charge across all formats in 2022 and led India to multiple trophies, including the 2025 ODI World Cup; in that tournament's semi-final she scored 89 and, combined with Jemimah Rodrigues's century, India beat Australia and then defeated South Africa in the final. Her leadership was described as marked by an aggressive pursuit of victory that instilled confidence in teammates.
Harmanpreet has signalled she intends to continue playing, leaving the BCCI to decide her future role in the team while Mandhana takes on full-time captaincy across formats.
