Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India captain

India batter Harmanpreet Kaur announced on Instagram on 6 October 2026 that she has stepped down as captain of the India women's team across all three international formats.

Harmanpreet, 37, first captained India in 2012 and has led the side in five Tests, 51 one-day internationals and 155 T20 internationals. She was captain when India won the 50-over World Cup last year, the first global title for the team under her leadership.

Her last appearance as captain came on 22 September when she helped India secure a second successive Asian Games title against Sri Lanka.

In her Instagram post she said she was leaving the India side in a "good place" and that she's now "ready to play for the love of the game again". "This is not an easy decision," Harmanpreet wrote. "It carries years of memories, emotions, sacrifices, and moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life."

She also captained India to victory in the one-off Test against England at Lord's in July. India had earlier exited the T20 World Cup in the group stage that month, failing to reach the semi-finals for the second successive edition of the tournament.

Harmanpreet's announcement followed a meeting a day earlier in Guwahati with vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, head coach Amol Muzumdar and Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Devajit Saikia. Mandhana, 30, is expected to take over the captaincy.

Mandhana is widely expected to assume leadership ahead of India's scheduled home series against Zimbabwe, which will consist of three T20 internationals and three one-day internationals beginning on 16 October.