Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India captain across all formats
Synopsis
Harmanpreet Kaur's resignation closes one of the most decorated chapters in Indian women's cricket — a reign spanning two formats, a historic ICC ODI World Cup title, four Asia Cup crowns, two Asian Games golds, and a world record 150-plus T20I matches as captain. She leaves on her own terms, citing peace, not pressure.
Key Takeaways
Harmanpreet Kaur resigned as India women's cricket captain across all formats on 6 October 2026 .
She served as T20I captain since 2018 and ODI captain since 2022 , succeeding Mithali Raj .
She led India to their first senior ICC ODI World Cup title , defeating South Africa on home soil.
Under her leadership, India won a record four Asia Cup titles and back-to-back Asian Games gold medals in 2022 and 2026 .
She became the first cricketer to captain a side in 150+ T20I matches , surpassing MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma .
Kaur confirmed she will continue playing for India; the BCCI is expected to announce a new captain soon.
Harmanpreet Kaur, who led the Indian women's cricket team to a maiden senior ICC ODI World Cup title, announced her resignation as captain across all formats on 6 October 2026. Kaur had served as India's full-time T20I captain since 2018 and as ODI captain since 2022, when she succeeded the legendary Mithali Raj. She made the announcement through a heartfelt post on Instagram.
The Resignation in Her Own Words
'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.
She reflected on the personal cost of leadership: '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.'
Concluding her message, she wrote: 'Captaincy may end today, but my love for Indian cricket never will. Blood. Sweat. Sacrifice. Pride. I gave it all. Now, I'm ready to play for the love of the game again. Captaincy ends. The journey continues.'
Historic Achievements Under Her Captaincy
Kaur cemented her legacy by becoming the first female captain to lead India to a senior ICC World Cup title, defeating South Africa on home soil. She also guided India to a record four Asia Cup titles — in 2012, 2016, 2022, and 2026 — and back-to-back gold medals at the Asian Games in Hangzhou (2022) and Aichi-Nagoya (2026).
Notable bilateral milestones included India's first Women's ODI series win on English soil since 1999, achieved in 2022, a historic Test match victory against Australia in 2023, and a T20I series triumph over England in 2025. Earlier this year, she commanded India to a 270-run win over England in the first-ever women's Test at Lord's Cricket Ground.
A Record That Stands Alone
Kaur surpassed the records of men's captains including MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma to become the first cricketer ever to lead a side in 150-plus T20I matches — a milestone that underscores the sheer scale of her reign at the helm.
What Comes Next
Kaur confirmed she will continue playing for India, signalling her desire to focus on personal performance after years of subordinating it to team needs. '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. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to name a new captain in the coming weeks, with a fresh leadership era in Indian women's cricket set to begin.
Point of View
Chosen by Kaur herself after a World Cup win and a Lord's Test triumph, reflects a captain who leaves from a position of strength rather than compulsion, which is rare in Indian cricket at any level. The BCCI now faces a genuinely difficult succession question: the next captain inherits a confident, title-winning squad but also the pressure of a fan base whose expectations have been permanently elevated. Whether the board opts for continuity in style or a generational reset will define the next chapter of Indian women's cricket.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Harmanpreet Kaur step down as India's cricket captain?
Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down on 6 October 2026, citing a personal decision after years of prioritising the team over her own growth and ambitions. In her Instagram post, she said she leaves 'with peace' believing the team is in a good place, and expressed a desire to play for the love of the game again.
What were Harmanpreet Kaur's biggest achievements as India captain?
Kaur led India to their first-ever senior ICC ODI World Cup title, defeating South Africa on home soil. She also won four Asia Cup titles, two consecutive Asian Games gold medals, and oversaw historic bilateral wins including the first women's ODI series victory in England since 1999 and a Test win at Lord's.
How long did Harmanpreet Kaur serve as India's captain?
Kaur served as India's full-time T20I captain from 2018 and as ODI captain from 2022, totalling approximately eight years across formats. She became the first cricketer to captain a side in 150-plus T20I matches, surpassing MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.
Will Harmanpreet Kaur continue playing for India after resigning as captain?
Yes, Kaur confirmed she will continue as a player. She wrote that she is 'ready to play for the love of the game again,' signalling her intent to remain part of the Indian women's squad in a non-captaincy role.
Who will be the next captain of the Indian women's cricket team?
The BCCI has not yet announced a successor as of 6 October 2026. With Kaur confirming her continued availability as a player, the board is expected to name a new captain in the coming weeks ahead of India's next assignment.
