Veteran all-rounder Harmanpreet Kaur has announced her resignation as captain of the Indian women's cricket team in all three international formats, concluding a significant ten-year period at the helm. The 37-year-old revealed her decision via an emotional Instagram post on Tuesday, stating her desire to now "play for the love of the game again."
A Decade of Leadership and Triumphs
Kaur's captaincy will be remembered for its historic achievements, most notably leading India to their maiden senior Women's ODI World Cup title in 2025. This landmark victory made her the only Indian captain to have secured a Women's World Cup trophy. Her tenure also included guiding the team to a second consecutive Asian Games gold medal in 2026, further cementing her legacy.
Throughout her leadership, Harmanpreet captained India in five Tests, 51 One Day Internationals, and a remarkable 155 Twenty20 Internationals. She assumed the full-time T20I captaincy in 2018 and took over the ODI captaincy from Mithali Raj in 2022.
"Ready to Play for the Love of the Game"
In her announcement, Harmanpreet Kaur expressed that stepping down was not an easy decision, reflecting on years of memories, emotions, and sacrifices. She emphasized dedicating everything to Indian women's cricket, often prioritizing team growth over individual ambitions. Kaur stated she leaves the role with "peace, pride" and confidence in the team's strong position.
Crucially, Kaur confirmed her continued availability to play for India in all formats, reiterating her passion for the sport despite relinquishing leadership duties.
The Road Ahead for Indian Women's Cricket
"Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team across all formats. This is not an easy decision. It carries years of memories, emotions, sacrifices, and moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life." — Harmanpreet Kaur
Her decision follows a recent BCCI review meeting held in Guwahati, which was attended by Kaur, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, and head coach Amol Muzumdar. While an official announcement from the board is pending, reports suggest that Smriti Mandhana is the likely candidate to succeed Kaur as captain, ushering in a new era for the Indian women's team.