Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down as India Women’s Cricket Captain

Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all formats, ending a leadership tenure that included India’s 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup title and Asian Games gold in 2026.

Kaur announced her decision on social media on Tuesday, describing it as a difficult call shaped by years of memories, emotions and sacrifices. She made clear that her resignation from the captaincy does not signal the end of her playing career.

“Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team across all formats,” Kaur wrote. “This is not an easy decision. It carries years of memories, emotions, sacrifices, and moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Her decision brings a significant chapter to a close for Indian women’s cricket. Kaur is India’s only women’s cricket World Cup-winning captain, having led the side to the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup title. She also captained India to the 2026 Asian Games gold last month.

A leadership role spanning more than a decade

Kaur first captained India in 2012 and later became the full-time T20I captain in 2016. She took charge of the Indian women’s team across formats in 2022 after Mithali Raj’s retirement.

In her statement, Kaur reflected on the demands of leading the side and the decisions she had made while placing the team’s needs above her own ambitions. She said she had given “everything” to the team and to Indian women’s cricket.

“I have given everything I had to this team and to Indian women’s cricket — my blood, my sweat, my time, and many times, a part of my own game and personal ambitions,” she wrote.

Kaur said there were occasions when she put aside individual performance, personal growth and her own wishes because she believed the team had to come first. She also acknowledged that leadership required choices that were not always understood and sometimes came at a personal cost.

“As a captain, I have had to make difficult decisions. Decisions that were not always understood, not always easy, and sometimes came at a personal cost,” Kaur wrote. “But every decision I made was with one intention – to make this TEAM better and to give other players the opportunity to grow, believe in themselves and become the best versions of themselves.”

Kaur confirms her playing journey will continue

While stepping away from the captaincy, Kaur stressed that she remains committed to the sport. “Now, I’m ready to play for the love of the game again. Captaincy ends. The journey continues,” she wrote.

The announcement follows a prolonged period of inconsistent returns with the bat, while Smriti Mandhana’s success in the Women’s Premier League had strengthened her claim as a leadership option. Kaur, however, framed her departure as a moment to turn the page while remaining part of a group she believes is positioned well for the future.

What Kaur leaves behind for India

Kaur said she was leaving the captaincy with both emotion and peace, expressing confidence in the talent, character and belief within the Indian women’s team. Her message underlined that she sees herself continuing alongside the group as a player rather than its captain.

“Because I genuinely believe My team is in a good place. A team with talent, character, belief and a future that I am incredibly excited to watch and be a part of,” Kaur stated. “I feel I have done my duty.”

She added that carrying the responsibility had been a privilege and that she was grateful for the chance to lead Indian women’s cricket. With Kaur remaining available as a player, India now face the task of appointing a new captain for the next phase across formats.