India’s celebrated World Cup-winning skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has announced her retirement from the captaincy across all three formats of the women’s game, paving the way for opening batter Smriti Mandhana to take over the helm. Harmanpreet, now 37, will remain a player but will hand over leadership duties to the 30‑year‑old left‑hander, who has already served as deputy captain and has a distinguished record in international cricket.
Harmanpreet’s tenure as captain will be remembered as a golden era for Indian women’s cricket. She guided the side to its first ever global title when India lifted the 2025 50‑over World Cup on home soil, a triumph that placed her among an elite group of Indian captains.
Only two men—Kapil Dev, who led India to the 1983 World Cup, and MS Dhoni, who captained the 2011 World Cup‑winning side—have ever steered an Indian team to victory in that tournament. The 2025 win cemented her legacy and underscored her ability to inspire a generation of cricketers. Her final achievement as captain came at the Asian Games, where India secured a second consecutive gold medal by crushing Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final.
Over the course of her leadership, Harmanpreet captained India in five Test matches, 51 One‑Day Internationals and 155 T20 Internationals, amassing a wealth of experience and a reputation for making tough, sometimes unpopular, decisions for the benefit of the team. The transition to Smriti Mandhana was swift.
Mandhana, who has already captained India in 18 T20 Internationals and four ODIs while serving as Harmanpreet’s deputy, was officially named the new leader shortly after the announcement. The left‑handed opener, now 30, entered the record books earlier this year as the highest run‑scorer in women’s international cricket. She also holds the record for the most centuries—18—across all formats in the women’s game, highlighting her consistency and ability to deliver under pressure.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Harmanpreet reflected on her decision to step down. She described the choice as “not an easy decision,” noting that it was laden with years of memories, emotions, sacrifices and moments that would stay with her for life. She wrote that she had given “my blood, my sweat, my time, and many times, a part of my own game and personal ambitions” to Indian women’s cricket. Harmanpreet explained that there were occasions when she had to set aside her own performance and personal goals because she believed the team’s success must come first.
She continued, “As a captain, I have had to make difficult decisions. Decisions that were not always understood, not always easy, and sometimes came at a personal cost. But every decision I made was with one intention – to make this team better and to give other players the opportunity to grow, believe in themselves and become the best versions of themselves.” She concluded her message by expressing peace and confidence in the squad’s future, praising its talent, character and belief, and stating that she felt she had fulfilled her duty to the team. Harmanpreet’s final Test as captain was a historic 270‑run rout of England at Lord’s in July, the first women’s Test ever played at the iconic ground.
She first took over the T20 captaincy in 2016 and assumed the Test and ODI responsibilities after Mithali Raj’s retirement in 2022. In her farewell remarks, she affirmed that while her captaincy was ending, her love for Indian cricket would never wane. She summed up her journey with the words, “Blood. Sweat.
Sacrifice. Pride. I gave it all.
Now, I’m ready to play for the love of the game again. Captaincy ends.
The journey continues.” Mandhana, upon accepting the role, expressed deep gratitude and humility. She said, “To be given the responsibility of leading India is a very special honour.
Representing India has always meant a great deal to me, and to now have the opportunity to lead the team is something I will value deeply.” She also paid tribute to Harmanpreet, acknowledging her predecessor’s commitment and the pivotal part she played in the team’s evolution. Mandhana emphasized her awareness of the weight of the new role and pledged to work closely with her teammates, continue learning, and give her utmost effort to advance Indian cricket. Looking ahead, India’s schedule remains packed.
The team will host Zimbabwe for a three‑match T20 International series and an equal number of ODIs beginning on October 16. Following that, the Indian women will travel to South Africa for a tour in December, with the fixtures set to be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
These upcoming series will provide Mandhana with an early test of her leadership and an opportunity to build on the foundation laid by Harmanpreet, as she seeks to guide the side toward further success on the international stage.