Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down as India Women's Captain Across All Formats

One of the most decorated captaincy reigns in Indian cricket history is over. Harmanpreet Kaur announced on Tuesday that she is stepping down as captain of the India women's team across all formats, with immediate effect.

The 37-year-old revealed the decision in an emotional Instagram post, writing that it was "not an easy decision" and carried "years of memories, emotions, sacrifices, and moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life." She added that she had given everything to the team — "my blood, my sweat, my time" — and often put her own ambitions aside because she believed the team had to come first. She will continue to play for India.

Harmanpreet took over the T20I captaincy in 2016 and became full-time leader in ODIs and Tests in 2022 after Mithali Raj's retirement. Across her tenure she led India in five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is.

Her defining achievement came last year, when she captained India to their maiden ICC Women's ODI World Cup title on home soil — becoming only the third Indian captain, after Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni, to lift a 50-over World Cup. Her final act as skipper was defending India's Asian Games gold medal in Japan last month, completing back-to-back titles.

The timing raises eyebrows. The BCCI held a review meeting in Guwahati on Sunday, attended by head coach Amol Muzumdar and chief selector Neetu David, where Harmanpreet's future was reportedly discussed. No successor has been named, with Smriti Mandhana the frontrunner having deputized since 2016.