Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India captain after 2025 World Cup triumph
Synopsis
Harmanpreet Kaur's captaincy exit is the end of an era — she departs as the only woman to lead India to a senior ICC Women's World Cup title, the first cricketer to captain any side in 150-plus T20 matches, and the architect of a golden run that included four Asia Cup titles and two Asian Games golds. BCCI's Rajeev Shukla called her a 'true inspiration' — and the numbers back that up.
Key Takeaways
Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down as India Women's Cricket Team captain across all formats on 6 October 2026 .
She became the first woman to lead India to a senior ICC Women's Cricket World Cup title, winning it on home soil in 2025 against South Africa.
She captained India to four Asia Cup titles (2012, 2016, 2022, 2026) and consecutive Asian Games gold medals in 2022 and 2026.
She is the first cricketer to captain a team in more than 150 T20 matches , surpassing MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma .
BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla hailed her on X as a 'true inspiration' for inspiring young girls to take up cricket.
Harmanpreet confirmed her international playing career continues : 'Captaincy ends.
The journey continues.'
Harmanpreet Kaur on Tuesday, 6 October 2026 relinquished the captaincy of the Indian Women's Cricket Team across all formats, closing one of the most decorated leadership tenures in the history of Indian women's cricket. The 37-year-old led India to several landmark achievements, most notably the 2025 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup title — the first senior ICC World Cup won by an Indian women's side.
BCCI's tribute to a trailblazer
Rajeev Shukla, Vice President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was among the first officials to respond, hailing Harmanpreet as a 'true inspiration' for Indian women's cricket. 'Harmanpreet Kaur has been a true inspiration for Indian women's cricket. As captain, she led India to the historic 2025 Women's World Cup title and inspired countless young girls across the country to take up cricket and pursue their dreams,' Shukla wrote on X. 'As she steps down as captain, wishing Harmanpreet Kaur the very best for the journey ahead,' he added.
A landmark captaincy career by numbers
Harmanpreet took over as India's full-time T20I captain in 2018 and assumed the ODI captaincy in 2022, succeeding legendary batter Mithali Raj. She became the first cricketer — male or female — to captain a side in more than 150 T20 matches, surpassing the tallies of MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.
Under her watch, India won four Asia Cup titles — in 2012, 2016, 2022, and 2026 — and claimed consecutive Asian Games gold medals in Hangzhou (2022) and Aichi-Nagoya (2026). The team also recorded its first bilateral Women's ODI series win in England since 1999 (in 2022), a historic Test victory against Australia in 2023, a breakthrough T20I series win against England in 2025, and a 270-run victory over England in the first-ever women's Test at Lord's Cricket Ground earlier this year.
The World Cup moment that defined her legacy
The crowning achievement of Harmanpreet's captaincy came in 2025 when she guided India to the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup title on home soil, defeating South Africa in the final. The victory made her the first woman to lead India to a senior ICC Women's Cricket World Cup triumph — a historic milestone that resonated far beyond the boundary ropes and is widely credited with driving a surge in grassroots participation among young girls across the country.
Harmanpreet's farewell — in her own words
Announcing her decision on Instagram, Harmanpreet struck a reflective but resolute note. '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,' she wrote. She was clear, however, that she is not stepping away from international cricket. 'Captaincy may end today, but my love for Indian cricket never will... Now, I'm ready to play for the love of the game again. Captaincy ends. The journey continues,' she concluded. Harmanpreet's continuation as a player ensures that her experience and match-winning ability remain available to the side under its next captain.
What comes next for Indian women's cricket
The BCCI is expected to announce a new captain for the Indian Women's Cricket Team in the coming weeks. Harmanpreet's departure from the role opens a significant leadership transition, with India's women's programme now among the most competitive globally. This comes amid a broader rise in the sport's viewership and commercial value in India, driven in no small part by the high-profile successes of her tenure.
Point of View
While deserved, should not obscure the hard governance questions that follow. A succession plan for a programme now competing at the very top of the global game demands more than internal appointment; it requires a transparent selection rationale. The 2025 World Cup win changed the commercial and cultural stakes of women's cricket in India permanently — the next captain inherits enormous momentum but equally enormous expectation.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Harmanpreet Kaur step down as India's cricket captain?
Harmanpreet Kaur announced on 6 October 2026 that she was relinquishing the captaincy of the Indian Women's Cricket Team across all formats, describing it as 'not an easy decision' carrying 'years of memories, emotions, sacrifices.' She said she was stepping down with peace, believing the team is 'in a good place' with talent and belief. She confirmed that her international playing career will continue.
What were Harmanpreet Kaur's biggest achievements as captain?
Harmanpreet led India to the 2025 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup title — the first senior ICC World Cup won by an Indian women's side — defeating South Africa in the final on home soil. She also won four Asia Cup titles, two Asian Games gold medals, and became the first cricketer to captain a side in more than 150 T20 matches.
What did BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla say about Harmanpreet?
BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla wrote on X that Harmanpreet Kaur has been 'a true inspiration for Indian women's cricket,' crediting her leadership with inspiring 'countless young girls across the country to take up cricket and pursue their dreams.' He wished her the best for 'the journey ahead.'
Will Harmanpreet Kaur continue playing international cricket after stepping down?
Yes. Harmanpreet made it explicitly clear in her announcement that her international career is not over. 'Captaincy may end today, but my love for Indian cricket never will... Now, I'm ready to play for the love of the game again. Captaincy ends. The journey continues,' she wrote on Instagram.
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. The board is expected to name a new captain in the coming weeks following Harmanpreet's resignation across all formats.
