Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India women's cricket captain after World Cup triumph

Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down as captain of India's women's cricket team across all formats this week, ending an era less than a year after she guided the nation to its first World Cup victory. The decision came during a review meeting attended by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, coach Amol Muzumdar, Kaur herself, and her long-time deputy Smriti Mandhana, who has now been appointed captain in Tests, ODIs, and T20s.

The transition was not without friction. Kaur, now 37, had indicated willingness to step aside from the T20 captaincy immediately but wanted to continue leading in the longer formats, believing younger players could still benefit from her experience and tactical knowledge. The BCCI, however, was resolved on a cleaner break—preferring the 30-year-old Mandhana to take the helm across all three formats. The decision mirrors the men's team's recent move to replace Suryakumar Yadav as T20 captain with Shreyas Iyer shortly after India's World Cup win earlier this year.

Kaur's departure comes amid scrutiny that intensified after India's underwhelming performance at the T20 World Cup in England a few months ago. Her own batting form had declined noticeably, prompting the BCCI to weigh whether a younger captain might better position the team for the evolving demands of women's cricket globally. The debate over her future split opinion among former players and captains. Diana Edulji, a respected voice in the sport, believed Kaur had delivered everything reasonably expected and that the time had come for younger leadership. Anjum Chopra countered that Kaur's experience remained too valuable to lose. Sensing the BCCI's strong preference for change, Kaur chose to step down during the review meeting.

She announced her decision in an emotional Instagram post. "I feel I have done my duty. I gave this team everything I had," she wrote. "Now, it is time for me to turn the page… 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."

Kaur's career spans more than two decades and remains among the most consequential in women's cricket history. Born in Moga, a city in Punjab, she developed her passion for the game early, supported by her family despite modest means. Her breakthrough came after joining the Railways—a move facilitated by Diana Edulji—and relocating to Mumbai, where superior facilities and professional infrastructure accelerated her development. She made her India debut in 2009 at age 20.

For much of her first decade, she was a complete all-rounder: a middle-order batter who could strike explosively, an off-spinner with craft, and a sharp fielder. Her defining moment came in the 2017 World Cup semi-final against Australia, when she scored a blistering century that not only shifted the match but transformed the landscape of women's cricket in India itself. That knock made her a household name and sparked genuine public interest in the women's game. India lost the final to England that year, but the damage to the sport's obscurity had been done.

She became T20 captain in 2016 and assumed the captaincy across all formats in 2022. Her leadership style was marked by aggressive ambition and fearlessness—qualities that instilled confidence in teammates and helped India overcome even Australia, previously seen as unbeatable. In the 2025 World Cup semi-final, though she didn't reach a century, her 89 was a commanding innings that, combined with Jemimah Rodrigues's hundred, secured victory over their arch rivals. India then defeated South Africa in the final, achieving what many regard as the pinnacle of Indian women's cricket.

Now the BCCI faces a different challenge than it did with the men's team. When Suryakumar Yadav lost the captaincy, he also lost his T20 place—a decision the selectors could make because men's cricket has deep talent reserves. Women's cricket in India, while growing rapidly, does not yet have that same depth. Kaur has indicated her intention to continue playing, leaving the board to decide whether to retain a player of her experience and stature despite her recent form, or to accelerate the transition to younger talent. Whatever path the BCCI chooses, Kaur leaves behind a legacy that reshaped how India sees women's cricket.