Harmanpreet Kaur has brought an end to one of the most defining leadership eras in Indian women’s cricket after stepping down as captain across all three international formats.
Her decision follows a review meeting involving the BCCI leadership, head coach Amol Muzumdar and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana in Guwahati. Shortly afterwards, Harmanpreet confirmed through social media that she was relinquishing the captaincy while continuing her international playing career.
Her tenure will be remembered for delivering India’s first senior women’s ICC title, multiple Asian Games gold medals, two T20 Asia Cup titles and memorable individual achievements, while also including heartbreaking defeats and high-profile controversies.
“I Leave With Peace”
Announcing her decision, Harmanpreet described the role as the greatest responsibility of her career.
“This is not an easy decision,” she wrote. “It carries years of memories, emotions, sacrifices and moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Reflecting on nearly a decade as captain, she said she had always placed the team’s interests ahead of her own ambitions.
“I have seen the highest highs and the lowest lows. Every sacrifice was worth making for this team.”
Harmanpreet added that she was stepping aside with confidence in the next generation.
“I leave the captaincy with a heart full of emotions, but also with peace. I believe this team is in a very good place.”
Her message concluded with a clear indication that her international journey is far from over.
“Captaincy may end today, but my love for Indian cricket never will. Now, I’m ready to play for the love of the game again.”
Rise to Full-Time Captaincy
Harmanpreet first captained India in a T20I in 2012 as a stand-in, became the regular T20I captain in 2016, and took over as full-time ODI and Test captain in 2022.
Following Mithali Raj’s retirement in 2022, Harmanpreet assumed leadership in One-Day Internationals before becoming India’s full-time captain across all three formats.
Over the course of her captaincy, she led India in:
- 5 Tests
- 51 One-Day Internationals
- 155 T20 Internationals
Major Successes Under Harmanpreet
Harmanpreet’s leadership produced several landmark achievements for Indian women’s cricket.
India lifted the Women’s Asia Cup in 2016 before later winning silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The team also captured back-to-back Asian Games gold medals in 2023 and 2026, reinforcing India’s dominance in continental cricket.
Her defining achievement arrived in 2025 when India won the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, making Harmanpreet the first captain to lead India’s senior women’s team to a global ICC title.
During her tenure, India also celebrated victory in the historic women’s Test at Lord’s in 2026, adding another milestone to an increasingly successful period.
Disappointments Along the Way
The captaincy was not without setbacks.
India surrendered the 2018 Women’s Asia Cup title after losing to Bangladesh in the final, having also been beaten by the same opponents during the group stage.
The team finished runners-up at the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup after defeat to Australia, before suffering further heartbreak against the Australians in the 2022 Commonwealth Games final and the 2023 T20 World Cup semi-final.
India also lost the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup final to Sri Lanka and exited the group stage of both the 2024 and 2026 Women’s T20 World Cups.
Controversies During Her Tenure
Several major controversies also defined Harmanpreet’s captaincy.
One of the earliest came during the 2018 Women’s T20 World Cup, when India left former captain Mithali Raj out of the semi-final against England. Harmanpreet publicly supported the decision, but India suffered an eight-wicket defeat and the selection became one of the most debated moments in Indian women’s cricket.
In 2023, Harmanpreet received a two-match suspension and was fined 75 percent of her match fee following her reaction to an umpiring decision during an ODI against Bangladesh. After being dismissed, she struck the stumps with her bat and later criticised the standard of officiating during the post-match presentation.
A Legacy Beyond Statistics
Numbers alone cannot fully define Harmanpreet’s leadership.
She inherited a team still searching for sustained success on the world stage and leaves behind a squad that has won major tournaments, developed greater depth and established itself among the strongest teams in international women’s cricket.
Her captaincy featured moments of celebration, difficult decisions, public scrutiny and historic triumphs.
While the leadership chapter has now closed, Harmanpreet continues her international career with the opportunity to contribute as one of India’s most experienced players.
Her greatest legacy remains unchanged — becoming the first captain to guide India to a senior women’s ICC World Cup title and helping shape one of the most successful periods in the history of Indian women’s cricket.
