Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as India captain across formats. “Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team across all formats,” she said via a post on Instagram.

Harmanpreet, 37, captained India on 211 occasions across formats. India achieved several accolades under her leadership, including the coveted World Cup title in 2025. She also led India to wins in the 2012, 2016 and 2022 editions of the Asia Cup along with gold medals at the 2022 and 2026 Asian Games.

After securing a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Kaur led India to their first bilateral WODI series win over England since 1999. She went on to captain India in a record 155 WT20Is, the most by any player.

“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,” she added, reflecting on her tenure as captain.

Kaur first led India as a stand-in during the 2012 Asia Cup before going on to lead across formats. She was handed the reins in the shortest format in 2016 and was made full-time captain across formats upon Mithali Raj’s retirement in 2022.

While announcing her resignation as captain, Kaur clarified that she was not bringing the curtains down on her career.

“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,” she iterated.

“I 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,” she said, throwing light on her decision to relinquish leadership.

Incumbent vice-captain Smriti Mandhana is the frontrunner to take over as the full-time captain across formats.