Harmanpreet Kaur Ends India Captaincy: ‘But Journey Continues’

Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all three formats, bringing an end to her long tenure as the side’s leader.

The 37-year-old announced on Tuesday following a BCCI review meeting in Guwahati, saying she felt she had fulfilled her duty to the team and was ready to return to playing without the responsibilities of captaincy.

“Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team across all formats,” Harmanpreet wrote in a statement on Instagram.

“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.”

However, Harmanpreet confirmed that her international career is not over. “Now, I’m ready to play for the love of the game again. Captaincy ends. The journey continues,” she said.

Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down After a Landmark Captaincy

Harmanpreet took over as India’s T20I captain in 2016 and was appointed ODI captain in 2022 before becoming the team’s all-format leader in 2023.

Her tenure has included some of the most significant achievements in the history of Indian women’s cricket.

Most notably, Harmanpreet led India to their maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title in November 2025. Under her leadership, India also won a second successive Asian Games gold medal in the T20 format in 2026.

She leaves the captaincy saying she is doing so with confidence in the team’s direction.

“I am leaving the captaincy with a heart full of emotions, but also with peace,” Harmanpreet said.

“Because I genuinely believe my team is in a good place.”

Why Did Harmanpreet Kaur Step Down?

Harmanpreet’s decision came after a BCCI review meeting in Guwahati to assess the team’s trajectory over the preceding months.

The meeting was chaired by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and attended by Harmanpreet, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and head coach Amol Muzumdar.

The source does not state that the BCCI asked Harmanpreet to resign or identify a specific incident as the reason for her decision. Her own statement instead framed the move as a personal decision after years of leading the team.

She said she felt she had “done my duty” and had given everything she had to the side.

A Captaincy Defined by Major Milestones

Harmanpreet’s leadership has coincided with several landmark moments for Indian women’s cricket.

She became the first captain in cricket history to lead a side in 150 T20Is, underlining the length of her leadership career in the shortest format.

Her tenure also included India’s historic women’s Test victory at Lord’s against England, as well as the team’s first bilateral Women’s ODI series win in England since 1999 in 2022.

India also recorded a historic Test victory over Australia in 2023 under her captaincy.

At the international multi-sport level, Harmanpreet was part of India’s Asian Games gold-medal winning campaigns in 2022 and 2026, while India won silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

She also captained Mumbai Indians to two Women’s Premier League titles.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s Major Achievements as Captain

Harmanpreet Kaur’s Journey Continues

Although her captaincy has come to an end, Harmanpreet has made it clear that she intends to remain an active member of the Indian team.

Her decision therefore marks a change in role rather than the conclusion of her international career.

After a decade leading India’s T20I side, followed by four years as ODI captain and three years as the all-format leader, Harmanpreet will now enter a new phase of her career without the responsibility of leading the team.

“Captaincy ends. The journey continues,” she said – a line that neatly captures the transition ahead for one of the defining figures in Indian women’s cricket.