Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team. Her first stand-in captaincy came in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup final against Pakistan on October 31, 2012. She became the full-time T20I captain on November 17, 2016, took charge of the ODI side on June 8, 2022, and became the all-format Test captain on December 14, 2023. On October 6, 2026, she stepped down from all captaincy duties.
Her T20I captaincy produced historic milestones. She became the first cricketer, male or female, to captain a side in 150 or more T20Is. She finished with 155 T20Is as captain, making her the format’s most-capped captain. She holds the record for most wins in women’s T20I history as captain, surpassing Meg Lanning’s 76 wins with 77 victories. Harmanpreet led India to their first T20 World Cup final in 2020, adding another milestone to her leadership record.
Her tournament record is equally significant. Harmanpreet became the first Indian women’s captain to win the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, guiding India to their maiden title in 2025. She is also the most successful Women’s Asia Cup captain, leading India to four titles in 2012, 2016, 2022 and 2026. Her leadership brought back-to-back Asian Games gold medals in 2022 and 2026, along with a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. In 5 Tests, she captained to four wins, including India’s first-ever Test victory over Australia and a 347-run victory over England in December 2023.
Some of Harmanpreet’s most important knocks came during her captaincy. Her unbeaten 171 off 115 balls against Australia in the 2017 World Cup semi-final took India into the final and became a defining innings. In the 2025 World Cup, she scored 89 off 89 balls against Australia and shared a 167-run partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues. The stand helped India complete a record successful chase and reach the final. These performances showed her impact in pressure moments while leading India.
Her leadership success also extended to the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Harmanpreet led Mumbai Indians to titles in two of the first three seasons. During the 2025 final, she played a crucial 66 off 44 balls after Mumbai lost their openers inside five overs, helping her side fight back against Delhi Capitals. She became the first Indian cricketer, male or female, to sign a Big Bash League contract with Sydney Thunder. The move came after the 2016 Australia tour, where she piloted India’s highest T20I chase at the time. In June 2017, she became the first Indian to sign with Surrey Stars in the England’s T20 Super League.
In her Instagram statement, Harmanpreet described the decision as “not an easy decision” after years of memories, emotions and sacrifices. She said, “I leave the captaincy today with a heart full of emotions, but also with PEACE,” while expressing confidence in the team’s future. She added, “I feel I have done my duty,” reflecting on her role. Looking ahead, she wrote, “Now, it is time for me to turn the page.” She ended with a message: “Captaincy ends. The journey continues.”
Harmanpreet’s decision closes a leadership chapter for Indian women’s cricket, but not her playing journey. Her captaincy brought victories, milestones and memorable performances. From her first leadership role in 2012 to stepping down in 2026, she remained at the centre of landmark moments for India. She now moves forward without the captaincy, carrying the experience built during her years as leader. Her words capture the transition: the captaincy ends, but the journey continues.
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