Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India women's cricket captain across all formats

Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of India's women's cricket team in all formats. The 37-year-old announced the decision in a post on Instagram, which both Al Jazeera and BBC Sport quoted.

"Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team across all formats," she wrote, according to Al Jazeera.

Kaur captained India in five Tests, 51 one-day internationals (ODIs) and 155 T20 internationals. Under her leadership, India won their first 50-over Women's World Cup in 2025. According to Al Jazeera, that title came in November 2025, on home soil.

Her last match as captain was India's successful defence of their Asian Games title, with a win over Sri Lanka. BBC Sport reported that the final was played on 22 September.

The announcement came a day after Kaur met BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia. BBC Sport reported the meeting directly. Al Jazeera attributed it to Indian media reports, which it said described the meeting as a discussion of the future of the women's team. According to BBC Sport, the meeting was in Guwahati, and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and head coach Amol Muzumdar also attended. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not state an explicit reason for her decision.

Record

According to Al Jazeera, Kaur is the first cricketer, male or female, to captain a side in more than 150 T20 internationals. Al Jazeera also reported that India reached the Women's T20 World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and 2023, were runners-up in 2020, and won the Women's Asia Cup in September. BBC Sport reported that India beat England in a one-off Test at Lord's in July. It also reported that India went out of the T20 World Cup in the group stage. According to BBC Sport, this was the second successive edition in which they did not reach the semi-finals.

What comes next

Al Jazeera calls Mandhana the favourite to succeed Kaur. BBC Sport says she is expected to take over. Neither outlet reports an appointment. According to BBC Sport, Mandhana is 30, and India host Zimbabwe for three T20s and three ODIs from 16 October. The reports do not include a BCCI statement or say who will captain that series.

What is disputed

The outlets differ on when Kaur first led India. Al Jazeera says she became T20 captain in 2016. BBC Sport says she first captained India in 2012. The accounts may describe different things, such as a first match as captain and a permanent appointment.

What each side says

Kaur wrote: "This is not an easy decision," according to Al Jazeera. She said she believes her team is in a good place and added: "I feel I have done my duty." She intends to keep playing: "Now, I’m ready to play for the love of the game again. Captaincy ends. The journey continues." BBC Sport quoted her as writing that some of her decisions as captain were "not always understood, not always easy, and sometimes came at a personal cost."

Analysis

Kaur's departure leaves India needing new leadership shortly before a home series against Zimbabwe starting on 16 October. If Mandhana is appointed, as both outlets expect, her role as deputy, which Al Jazeera dates to 2022, could support continuity. Kaur's wish to keep playing raises questions about her role as a player under a new captain. The reports do not say whether she will be selected. Without a BCCI statement, the timing and form of the succession remain unclear. Her record includes a first ODI World Cup title as well as recent T20 World Cup exits, and observers may weigh these differently.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.