Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India women’s captain across all formats after a decade of leading the T20I side. (Images: X)
New Delhi: India women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down from the captaincy across all three formats, bringing an end to her long tenure as the team’s leader. The 37-year-old announced her decision on social media, describing it as an emotional call after years of responsibility, sacrifice and memorable moments with the Indian team.
However, Harmanpreet made it clear that her decision is limited to the leadership role and that she intends to continue playing international cricket.
Announcing her decision, Harmanpreet said she was stepping away from captaincy after feeling that she had fulfilled her responsibility as the leader of the Indian women’s team. She acknowledged that leaving the role was far from easy, given the memories and emotions attached to her leadership journey. The veteran cricketer also indicated that she is looking forward to returning to the field without the additional pressure that comes with leading the side.
Harmanpreet’s announcement was accompanied by a clear message that her international career is not over. She said she is ready to rediscover the game purely for the love of cricket, signalling her intention to continue contributing as a player. Her decision therefore marks a change in role rather than a retirement from international cricket.
Harmanpreet became India’s T20I captain in 2016 and remained in charge for a decade. She later took over the ODI captaincy in 2022 before becoming the team’s all-format captain in 2023. Her leadership tenure saw her become one of the most prominent figures in Indian women’s cricket.
Over the years, she led India through major international tournaments and several landmark campaigns.
One of the biggest highlights of Harmanpreet’s captaincy came when India secured their maiden ODI World Cup title in November last year. Under her leadership, the Indian team also recently retained the Asian Games women’s T20 gold medal, adding another major achievement to her captaincy record. These milestones have made her tenure a significant chapter in the development of Indian women’s cricket.
Despite stepping away from leadership, Harmanpreet said she is leaving the captaincy with a sense of calm and confidence about the team’s future. She expressed belief that the Indian side is in a strong position and that the team can continue to progress under new leadership.
Her decision now opens the door for a new captain to take charge of India across formats while Harmanpreet continues her journey as a player.
Harmanpreet’s captaincy exit marks the end of an important era for Indian women’s cricket, but her presence on the field is set to continue. After years of carrying the responsibility of leading the national team, the veteran is now preparing to focus solely on her role as a cricketer.
