World Cup-winning skipper ends captaincy tenure after leading India across formats, saying she leaves with “peace” and is ready to play for the love of the game again
New Delhi, Oct 2026 : Indian women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain across all formats, bringing an end to a leadership tenure that saw her guide the side through major triumphs and difficult phases while helping shape a new generation of Indian women cricketers.
Kaur, who had served as India’s full-time T20I captain since 2018 and took over the ODI captaincy from legendary Mithali Raj in 2022, announced her decision in an emotional post on social media.
“Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team across all formats. 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,” Kaur wrote.
Reflecting on her tenure, the 37-year-old said she had given everything to the team and Indian women’s cricket, including her time, energy and, on occasions, her individual ambitions.
“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 said.
Kaur acknowledged that captaincy had required difficult decisions, some of which were not always understood by others. She said her intention had consistently been to make the team stronger while giving players the opportunity to develop confidence and fulfil their potential.
Her tenure reached its defining moment when she became the first woman captain to lead India to a senior ICC Women’s World Cup title. India defeated South Africa on home soil to secure the historic championship, giving Kaur a place in the country’s cricketing history.
“I have seen it all. I have seen the lowest moments, the heartbreak, the criticism, the doubts and the days when nothing seemed to go our way,” Kaur said. “And I have also experienced the highest highs — the victories, the celebrations, the pride of representing our country, and the moments that made every sacrifice worth it.”
Kaur’s captaincy has also been marked by success in continental and multi-sport competitions. She led India to four Asia Cup titles in 2012, 2016, 2022 and 2026. Under her leadership, India also won consecutive gold medals at the Asian Games, finishing on top of the podium at Hangzhou in 2022 and Aichi-Nagoya in 2026.
Another notable achievement came in 2022, when India secured a historic bilateral Women’s ODI series victory in England, their first such series win on English soil since 1999.
Kaur also led India to a historic Test victory against Australia in 2023 and guided the team to a breakthrough T20I series win against England in 2025.
Her leadership record extended beyond international trophies and series victories. She became the first cricketer to captain a team in 150 T20I matches, surpassing the marks of leading men’s captains including MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.
Earlier this year, Kaur also led India to a landmark 270-run victory over England in the first-ever women’s Test played at Lord’s Cricket Ground, further adding to her record as one of the most accomplished leaders in Indian women’s cricket.
Despite stepping away from captaincy, Kaur made it clear that she does not intend to step away from the game. She said she was leaving the leadership role with a sense of fulfilment, believing that the Indian team was well placed for the future.
“I leave the captaincy today with a heart full of emotions, but also with PEACE. 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,” she wrote.
Kaur thanked her teammates, coaches, support staff, management, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), family members and fans for standing by her through the highs and lows of her career as captain.
She said the end of her captaincy marked the beginning of a new phase in her cricketing journey.
“Captaincy may end today, but my love for Indian cricket never will,” Kaur said. “Now, I’m ready to play for the love of the game again. Captaincy ends. The journey continues.”
