Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the Indian women's cricket team in Tests, ODIs and T20Is, with immediate effect. She announced it in an Instagram post on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
She will not retire from international cricket and will stay available for selection as a player.
"Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women's Cricket Team across all formats," she wrote. "This isn't an easy decision. But I feel I have done my duty. I am leaving the team in a good place." She added, "Now, I'm ready to play for the love of the game again. Captaincy ends. The journey continues."
Harmanpreet led India for about a decade. She first captained India in a T20 match against Pakistan in Guangzhou in 2012 and became the full-time T20I captain in 2016. She was named ODI captain in 2022 and took charge in all formats in 2023.
Her biggest moment came in 2025, when she led India to its first women's ODI World Cup title, won at home. That result raised the profile of women's cricket in India. Reports say she captained India in five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is, though different reports give slightly different numbers.
The decision came after a review meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Guwahati, according to reports. Her vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, is widely reported to be the likely next captain in all formats. The BCCI has not yet made an official announcement. It is also not known whether Harmanpreet will take on any formal role, such as mentoring, besides playing.
Harmanpreet framed the move as a wish to focus on her batting and play without the extra pressure of leading. Her statement that the team is in a good place suggests a smooth change of leadership, not an exit forced by a crisis.
For India, the decision brings a new chapter after a period of success. A new captain will now lead a side that Harmanpreet helped build into a world champion.
