Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all three formats with immediate effect. The decision ends her long, landmark leadership run with the national side.
The 37-year-old made the announcement on Tuesday, October 6, following a BCCI review meeting in Guwahati. She confirmed that she will continue to represent India purely as a player across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
Harmanpreet leaves the leadership role after guiding India through major titles and historic milestones.
Here is a look at her captaincy record, individual achievements, key team successes, her statement, and the potential next leader.
Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down From India Captaincy
Harmanpreet announced her decision through a detailed social media statement on Instagram. She described the decision as difficult, noting that it carried years of memories, emotions, and personal sacrifices.
Her decision followed a BCCI review meeting in Guwahati involving BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, and head coach Amol Muzumdar. The meeting assessed the team’s recent performances and established a roadmap for the future.
Harmanpreet first took charge of India’s T20I side as a stand-in during the 2012 Asia Cup before being named full-time T20I captain in 2016. She became the full-time ODI and Test captain in 2022 following Mithali Raj’s retirement.
Her captaincy ends after 211 matches for India—comprising 5 Tests, 51 ODIs, and 155 T20Is. She leaves as the most experienced T20I captain in international cricket history.
What Did Harmanpreet Kaur Say?
Harmanpreet made it clear that stepping down from the captaincy does not mean walking away from international cricket. She wants to continue playing for India and contributing with the bat and ball without the added responsibility of leadership.
She shared that she gave the team her blood, sweat, time, and sacrifice during her leadership, frequently putting her personal ambitions and individual milestones behind the team’s collective needs.
Harmanpreet emphasized that she believes the Indian team is currently in a strong position, backed by talent, character, and a bright future. She leaves the captaincy with complete confidence in the group she helped build.
Her closing message captured the transition clearly:
“Captaincy ends. The journey continues.”
She added that she is ready to play simply for the love of the game once again.
Harmanpreet Kaur Captaincy Record for India
Harmanpreet Kaur’s captaincy record reflects the massive responsibility she carried across formats for a decade. She led the Indian women’s team in 211 matches and secured 126 victories overall.
Here is Harmanpreet Kaur’s format-wise captaincy record:
| Format | Matches | Wins | Losses | Tied / NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| ODIs | 51 | 30 | 19 | 2 |
| T20Is | 155 | 92 | 55 | 8 (3T / 5NR) |
| Total | 211 | 126 | 74 | 11 |
Harmanpreet’s 155 T20I appearances as captain stand as an all-time world record. Furthermore, her 92 T20I wins as leader are the most by any captain in women’s T20I history.
Her Test record is equally impressive. India won four of the five Tests she captained, including memorable home victories against both Australia and England.
Major Titles Won Under Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet’s tenure coincided with several of India’s grandest achievements in women’s cricket. The 2025 ODI World Cup remains her defining triumph, as India lifted their first-ever senior women’s World Cup under her guidance.
The team also claimed four Women’s Asia Cup titles during periods when she led the side. Her first came as stand-in captain in 2012, followed by full titles in 2016, 2022, and 2026.
Here is a clear breakdown of the major Titles and Medals won by the Indian Women’s Team under Harmanpreet Kaur:
| Tournament / Competition | Year | India’s Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Women’s Asia Cup | 2012 | Champions |
| Women’s Asia Cup | 2016 | Champions |
| Women’s Asia Cup | 2022 | Champions |
| Asian Games | 2022 (held 2023) | Gold Medal |
| Commonwealth Games | 2022 | Silver Medal |
| Women’s ODI World Cup | 2025 | Champions |
| Women’s Asia Cup | 2026 | Champions |
| Asian Games | 2026 | Gold Medal |
India’s Historic World Cup Triumph
The defining moment of Harmanpreet’s captaincy arrived in November 2025, when India won the Women’s ODI World Cup on home soil for the first time. The victory made her the first Indian woman to lead the country to a senior ICC World Cup title.
The triumph completed a long journey for Indian women’s cricket. Having faced heartbreaks in previous final appearances, Harmanpreet finally lifted the long-awaited trophy, joining Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni as the only Indian captains to win a senior 50-over World Cup.
Asian Games Gold Medals and Other Major Wins
Harmanpreet led India to Gold at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou (held in 2023). India then defended their title at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya to claim back-to-back gold medals.
She also led India to a Silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Under her leadership, India achieved key bilateral milestones, including a first Test victory over Australia in 2023 and a historic ODI series win in England in 2022 (their first on English soil since 1999).
Harmanpreet Kaur’s Individual Records
Harmanpreet’s impact extends far beyond her leadership. Since making her international debut in 2009, she has established one of the longest and most impressive careers in women’s cricket.
In February 2026, she became the highest- capped woman in international cricket history, making her 356th appearance against Australia to move past New Zealand’s Suzie Bates.
Later, in June 2026, she became the first player in international cricket (men’s or women’s) to reach 200 T20I appearances.
Take a look at her significant career milestones:
| Record / Milestone | Harmanpreet Kaur’s Achievement |
|---|---|
| Most-Capped Player in Women’s Cricket | 356 appearances across all formats |
| T20I Matches | First player to reach 200 T20I appearances |
| T20I Captaincy Record | Most matches (155) and most wins (92) as captain |
| First Indian Woman T20I Centurion | 103 vs New Zealand (2018 World T20) |
| First Indian to 100 T20Is | Reached the milestone in 2019 |
| Highest Individual Score in ODI World Cup Knockouts | 171* vs Australia (2017) |
| First Indian Woman Captain to Win Senior ICC World Cup | 2025 ODI World Cup |
International Career Numbers of Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet Kaur has built a long international career across all three formats. She has played 8 Tests, 164 ODIs and 210 T20Is for India.
Here is Harmanpreet Kaur’s overall format-wise batting record:
| Format | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 8 | 304 | 69 | 25.33 | 0 | 2 |
| ODIs | 164 | 4,541 | 171* | 37.22 | 7 | 24 |
| T20Is | 210 | 4,346 | 103 | 30.18 | 1 | 18 |
Harmanpreet has also chipped in with useful off-spin throughout her career, taking 12 Test wickets, 31 ODI wickets, and 32 T20I wickets.
Batting Record as Captain
Harmanpreet Kaur also scored important runs while leading India across all three formats. Her batting record as captain includes strong performances in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
Here is Harmanpreet Kaur’s batting record as India captain:
| Format | Matches as Captain | Runs | Average | 100s | 50s | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 5 | 266 | 38.00 | 0 | 2 | 69 |
| ODIs | 51 | 1,804 | 44.00 | 4 | 10 | 143* |
| T20Is | 155 | 3,416 | 32.84 | 1 | 16 | 103 |
The 171 That Transformed Indian Women’s Cricket
Harmanpreet’s unbeaten 171 off 115 balls against Australia in the 2017 World Cup semi-final remains a landmark innings in cricket history. Striking 20 fours and 7 sixes, she led India to a total of 281/4 in a rain-curtailed 42-over match, securing a 36-run victory.
Though India finished as runners-up in that tournament, her knock announced Indian women’s cricket on the world stage and marked an early stepping stone toward the team’s ultimate World Cup success in 2025.
Who Could Replace Harmanpreet Kaur as India Captain?
The BCCI has not formally named a replacement yet. However, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana is the top candidate to step into the role across formats.
Mandhana has extensive experience as a leader in international cricket and domestic franchise setups. Other players who could be considered for leadership roles include all-rounder Deepti Sharma and middle-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues.
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Conclusion
Harmanpreet Kaur now enters a different phase of her India career, with the captaincy responsibility no longer on her shoulders.
Her decision also creates an important leadership transition for the Indian team. The next captain will inherit a side shaped by years of experience under Harmanpreet. For Harmanpreet, the focus is clear: captaincy ends, but the journey continues.
