At 37, Harmanpreet Kaur has decided to step down as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all formats, bringing an era-defining leadership journey to a close.
Her tenure featured landmark triumphs, historic victories and several individual milestones, including India’s maiden senior-level ODI World Cup title in 2025, two consecutive Asian Games gold medals and the country’s fourth ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup crown in 2026, and a Silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (which took place in 2023). From her captaincy debut in 2012 to her final years at the helm, Harmanpreet combined aggressive batting, off-spin and fearless decision-making to become one of India’s most influential leaders in women’s cricket.
T20I captaincy: A record, Benchmark-setting Successful Reign
Harmanpreet Kaur made her T20I captaincy debut against Pakistan in the 2012 ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup final in Guangzhou. India won by 18 runs to lift the inaugural title, setting the tone for a captaincy career that would later include the 2016, 2022 and 2026 editions of the tournament. She was appointed India’s full-time T20I captain in November 2016.
Under her leadership, India won the 2026 ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup by defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in Dubai. During the tournament, Harmanpreet became the first player in men’s or women’s cricket to captain in 150 T20Is. She also led India to the semi-finals of the 2018 and 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cups and runners-up finish in 2020. India’s league-stage exit in the 2026 edition was only their second such elimination under her leadership, after the 2024 tournament.
As T20I captain, Harmanpreet scored 3,416 runs at a strike rate of 117.1 and an average of 32.84 in 155 matches, including 16 half-centuries and one century. She also claimed 19 wickets at an average of 25.68 and an economy rate of 6.39. Her finest innings as captain came against New Zealand in 2018, when she smashed 103 off 51 balls, including seven fours and eight sixes.
Overall, she scored 4,346 T20I runs at an average of 30.18 in 210 matches and took 32 wickets. Her 92 victories remain the most by a captain in women’s T20Is, while her captaincy win percentage stood at 59.35.
ODI captaincy: The World Cup Breakthrough
Harmanpreet made her ODI captaincy debut against Bangladesh in Ahmedabad on 8 April 2013. She later became India’s full-time ODI captain in June 2022 after Mithali Raj’s retirement. As skipper, she led India in 51 matches, scoring 1,804 runs at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 87.44. Her tally included 10 half-centuries and four centuries.
Her most dominant ODI captaincy performance came against England at Canterbury in September 2022. Harmanpreet struck an unbeaten 143 off 111 balls, featuring 18 fours and four sixes, as India won by 88 runs. She finished the series with 221 runs and helped India complete their first ODI series whitewash in England since 2001-02, in Jhulan Goswami’s farewell series.
The defining achievement of her ODI leadership came in 2025. India won their maiden senior-level ICC title by defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final of the Women’s ODI World Cup at Navi Mumbai. Earlier, Harmanpreet played a crucial role in the semi-final victory over Australia, scoring 89 off 88 balls during a match-winning partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues in a chase of 339. She finished the tournament with 260 runs in nine matches. As an ODI captain in winning causes, she scored 1,335 runs at an average of 63.57, including four centuries and six half-centuries. Overall, she accumulated 4,541 ODI runs in 164 matches, along with 31 wickets. Her win percentage as India’s ODI captain was 58.82.
Test captaincy: Historic victories
Harmanpreet began her Test captaincy against England at the DY Patil Stadium on 14 December 2023. She led India to an historic eight-wicket victory over Australia at the Wankhede Stadium, marking India’s first-ever Test win against them. She also captained India to victory in the first-ever women’s Test at Lord’s, where India defeated England between 10 and 13 July 2026.
As Test captain, Harmanpreet scored 266 runs in five matches at an average of 38, including two half-centuries. She contributed 236 runs in winning causes at an average of 47.2 and recorded a captaincy win percentage of 80, with just one defeat against Australia in Perth in March 2026.
Overall, she scored 304 Test runs in eight matches and took 12 wickets at an impressive average of 15.41. Her haul included a four-wicket haul and a five-wicket haul, underlining her value as a genuine all-rounder even in the longest format.
Asian Games and the final chapter as a leader at the helm
Harmanpreet led India to their maiden Asian Games gold medal at Hangzhou in 2023, defeating Sri Lanka by 19 runs in the final. Three years later, she guided India to a second consecutive gold medal by defeating the same opposition by 147 runs at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, on 22 September 2026.
Her leadership also brought India a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, which took place in July–August 2023, where Australia won the final by nine runs. Harmanpreet scored 137 runs in the tournament, including two half-centuries.
Having made her international debut in 2009, Harmanpreet leaves captaincy with 4,541 ODI runs, 4,346 T20I runs, 304 Test runs and 75 international wickets. More significantly, she departs as the captain who transformed India’s ambitions into historic titles, turning power, resilience and belief into a defining legacy for women’s cricket. She will continue to represent India in all three formats as a player.
Loves all things female cricket