Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India women’s cricket captain across all formats but will continue playing for India after a historic leadership career.
India women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down from captaincy across all three formats with immediate effect. The veteran batter confirmed the decision through a statement shared on Instagram, while making it clear that she will continue representing India as a player.
The decision brings an end to a leadership journey that began nearly a decade ago and included some of the biggest milestones in Indian women’s cricket. Harmanpreet Kaur first took charge of the T20I side in 2016 before becoming India’s full-time ODI and Test captain in 2022 after Mithali Raj retired from international cricket.
‘Captaincy Ends, The Journey Continues’
Announcing her decision, Harmanpreet Kaur said stepping away from leadership was not an easy choice after years filled with memories, emotions, sacrifices and important moments.
She added that she is now ready to return to the game simply for the love of cricket. While her captaincy chapter has ended, she stressed that her journey as a player will continue.
The announcement means Indian cricket will now enter a new phase of leadership across formats, while one of its most experienced players remains part of the squad.
A Captain With Major Achievements
During her tenure, Harmanpreet Kaur led India in five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is. Her most recent assignment as captain ended with India securing another gold medal at the Asian Games, following their previous gold-medal success in 2022.
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The defining achievement of her captaincy came when India won their maiden Women’s Cricket World Cup title on home soil in November last year. Under her leadership, the team created history in the 50-over format.
With that triumph, Kaur became only the third Indian captain after Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni to lead India to a 50-over World Cup title.
Historic T20I Captaincy Record
Kaur’s contribution to India’s T20I cricket has also been significant. She became the first captain in international cricket, across men’s and women’s cricket, to lead a team in more than 150 T20I matches.
Under her leadership, India reached the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2018 and 2023. The team also finished runners-up in the 2020 edition.
Her leadership journey also included the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where India won the silver medal. Kaur’s 65-run innings in the final could not prevent Australia from claiming the gold medal.
A New Chapter Begins
The decision marks the end of Harmanpreet Kaur’s tenure as India’s captain, but not her international career. She will continue to contribute with the bat and bring her extensive experience to the team.
For Indian women’s cricket, her departure from the captaincy opens the door for a new leader to take charge, while Kaur’s experience and achievements will remain an important part of the team’s recent history.
As Harmanpreet Kaur put it, captaincy may have ended, but her journey in cricket continues.
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