Sports · Women’s Cricket
India’s first Women’s ODI World Cup-winning captain ends her leadership tenure across all formats, leaving behind a record of historic trophies and continental success.
Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across Tests, ODIs and T20Is, effective immediately. Her announcement on Tuesday, October 6, closes a significant chapter in Indian cricket, highlighted by a maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title and two consecutive Asian Games gold medals.
The 37-year-old will continue to be available for India in all formats. Her decision marks a change in leadership, while her journey as an international player continues.
Resignation Follows BCCI Review Meeting
Harmanpreet’s announcement came after a BCCI review meeting in Guwahati on Monday, October 5. According to Cricbuzz, the meeting was presided over by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and attended by Harmanpreet, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and head coach Amol Muzumdar.
The report said discussions included the captaincy and the coaching position. Harmanpreet’s leadership had faced scrutiny following India’s failure to reach the knockout stages of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in England.
India responded to that disappointment by winning the Women’s Asia Cup and retaining their Asian Games crown. Those victories ensured that her final phase as captain included renewed success and further silverware.
The World Cup Victory That Defined Her Tenure
The greatest achievement of Harmanpreet’s captaincy arrived on November 2, 2025, when India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in Navi Mumbai to lift the Women’s ODI World Cup for the first time.
It was the breakthrough Indian women’s cricket had pursued for decades. Harmanpreet became the first captain to lead India to the Women’s ODI World Cup trophy, giving her leadership tenure a place in the country’s sporting history.
That achievement changed the expectations surrounding the team. India entered the next phase of their journey as world champions, with a new generation of players having experienced success on the game’s biggest ODI stage.
Two Asian Games Golds: India Built on Their First Triumph
Harmanpreet’s captaincy also delivered Asian Games gold medals in 2023 and 2026, establishing India as successive champions in women’s cricket at the continental event.
The first gold came at Hangzhou in 2023. Although officially branded as the 2022 Asian Games, that edition was held a year later following its postponement.
India then successfully defended their title at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan in 2026. The second gold became one of the final major honours of Harmanpreet’s time in charge.
Together with Commonwealth Games silver in 2022, the two Asian Games titles added a strong multi-sport dimension to her captaincy record.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s Captaincy Statistics
Harmanpreet’s reported captaincy appearances at the time of her announcement totalled 211 internationals. The figures below cover matches as captain, rather than her complete playing career.
| Format | Matches as Captain |
|---|---|
| Tests | 5 |
| ODIs | 51 |
| T20Is | 155 |
| Total | 211 |
Harmanpreet took over the T20I leadership in 2016 and succeeded Mithali Raj as full-time ODI captain in 2022. Her extended tenure placed her at the centre of a period of growing visibility and expectations for Indian women’s cricket.
Major Honours During Her Captaincy
| Competition | Year | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| ICC Women’s ODI World Cup | 2025 | Champions – India’s first title |
| Asian Games | 2023 | Gold medal |
| Asian Games | 2026 | Gold medal – title successfully defended |
| Commonwealth Games | 2022 | Silver medal |
Smriti Mandhana in Focus for India’s Next Chapter
Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet’s long-serving deputy, is central to the discussion over India’s next captain. Cricbuzz reported that the BCCI wants to build the team around her for future World Cups and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
A formal announcement of the new captain was still awaited at the time of writing. The report indicated that the decision could accompany the selection of India’s squad for the upcoming Zimbabwe series.
Whoever takes charge will inherit a team with recent championship experience. Harmanpreet’s continued availability also offers the next captain an experienced senior player during the transition.
Zimbabwe Series Awaits
Zimbabwe Women are scheduled to visit India for a six-match white-ball series comprising three T20Is and three ODIs. The ODI leg will form part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2025–29.
| Format | Dates | Venue City |
|---|---|---|
| Three T20Is | October 16, 18 and 20 | Raipur |
| Three ODIs | October 23, 26 and 28 | Baroda |
A Historic Leadership Chapter Comes to a Close
Harmanpreet’s captaincy included difficult campaigns and landmark victories. The latest T20 World Cup disappointment remains part of that record, alongside the team’s subsequent recovery and the trophies that defined her tenure.
