Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all formats. She made this emotional announcement on Tuesday (October 6) through her social media channels.
Her decision brings a historic and highly successful era of leadership to a close. Under her captaincy, India achieved monumental milestones, including their historic first-ever ICC Women's World Cup victory in 2025 and a gold medal at the Asian Games in 2023 and 2026.
While Kaur’s chapter as leader closes, she explicitly stated she is not retiring from international cricket.
Her statement is cited below:
“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.
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. There were moments when I had to put my individual performance, my own growth, and what I wanted for myself aside, because I believed the team had to come first.
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. 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.
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. 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.
| 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 .
I feel I have done my duty.
I gave this team everything I had. I carried the responsibility with pride, and I will always be grateful for the privilege of leading Indian women’s cricket.
Now, it is time for me to turn the page.
Captaincy may end today, but my love for Indian cricket never will.
Thank you to every teammate, coach, support staff, management , BCCI , family members every single fan who stood by me through the highs and lows.
Blood. Sweat. Sarifice. Pride.
I gave it all
Now, I’m ready to play for the love of the game again.
Captaincy ends. The journey continues.”
Harmanpreet Kaur’s departure as captain leaves Indian women's cricket in a strong, stable position for the next generation of players.
With her stepping down, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana is the natural frontrunner to take over the mantle across all formats.
