India’s World Cup-winning captain and veteran women’s cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur announced on Tuesday, October 6, that she would step down from her role across all formats. Her decision came after she led India to a gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games.
Harmanpreet announced her decision in a lengthy Instagram post, clarifying that she would continue to be part of the team. Kaur’s statement in full In her post she wrote, “Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team across all formats. “| leave the captaincy today with a heart full of emotions , but also with PEACE . “Now, it is time for me to turn the page.Captaincy may end today, but my love for Indian cricket never will.
Mandhana is reportedly the frontrunner to succeed Harmanpreet as India’s captain across all three 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. “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. 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. “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. Sacrifice. Pride. I gave it all. Now, I’m ready to play for the love of the game again. Captaincy ends. The journey continues,” read the statement from Harmanpreet.
Because i believed the team had to come first, there were moments when I had to put my individual performance, my own growth, and what I wanted for myself aside,. “Because I genuinely believe My team is in a good place. The 37-year-old first assumed the captaincy on an interim basis in 2012, leading India to the Women’s T20I Asia Cup title. She was appointed the full-time captain in 2016 and subsequently played a key role in shaping a highly successful period for Indian women’s cricket.
She said she had taken the decision with the aim of helping the side improve and become stronger.
