Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of India’s women’s cricket team across all formats, ending a decade-long spell at the helm. The 37-year-old all-rounder will not, however, retire from international cricket and is set to continue representing India as a player.
The decision came only days after India secured a second consecutive women’s cricket gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. Harmanpreet announced her departure from the leadership role following an important review meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Guwahati.
Harmanpreet’s leadership journey began in 2016, when she was appointed captain of India’s women’s T20I side. She went on to lead the team for almost a decade, becoming one of the most recognisable figures in Indian women’s cricket.
Her responsibilities increased in 2022 when she was handed the captaincy of the ODI team. From 2023, she took charge across all three formats, including Test cricket. During that period, she guided India through several major international campaigns and remained a central figure in the side’s development.
The defining achievement of her captaincy came last November, when India won the Women’s ODI World Cup for the first time in the country’s history. The landmark triumph added a historic chapter to Harmanpreet’s career and gave Indian women’s cricket one of its most significant international successes.
Despite relinquishing the captaincy, Harmanpreet has made it clear that she is not ready to leave the international stage. In an emotional message posted on Instagram, she reflected on the years she spent leading India and acknowledged the personal weight of her decision.
She described stepping down as far from an easy choice, saying her journey had been shaped by years of memories, emotions, sacrifices and moments that would remain with her for the rest of her life.
Her message also made clear that the end of her captaincy does not represent the end of her cricketing journey. Harmanpreet said she is now looking forward to returning to the field with greater freedom and playing simply because of her love for the game.
The change marks an important transition for India’s women’s team. Harmanpreet has been at the centre of the side for years, carrying the responsibilities of captaincy while also contributing as a senior all-rounder. Her departure from the leadership role will give the BCCI the task of identifying a successor capable of building on the foundation established during her tenure.
For Harmanpreet, the next phase will be about playing rather than leading. She will no longer have to shoulder the tactical and organisational responsibilities that accompany the captaincy, allowing her to focus on her performances and contribution as a member of the national team.
Her legacy as captain will be closely associated with India’s historic World Cup triumph, but her influence extends beyond a single tournament. After nearly ten years of leading the side in T20Is and several years in the other formats, she leaves the captaincy as one of the defining leaders of a significant period in Indian women’s cricket.
The captaincy chapter has closed, but Harmanpreet’s journey in international cricket continues.
