Harmanpreet Kaur Quits Captaincy Across All Formats

Harmanpreet Kaur quits captaincy of the Indian women’s cricket team across all three formats with immediate effect, bringing an end to her long tenure as the side’s leader. She announced the decision on October 6, 2026, while making it clear that she will continue her international career as a player.

The 37-year-old described the decision as an emotional one, saying her years as captain were filled with memories, sacrifices, difficult decisions and memorable victories.

Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down After BCCI Review Meeting

The announcement came after a BCCI review meeting in Guwahati that assessed the Indian women’s team’s recent performance and future direction.

The meeting was attended by Harmanpreet Kaur, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and head coach Amol Muzumdar, among others.

In her statement, Harmanpreet said:

“Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women's Cricket Team across all formats.”

She added that although her captaincy chapter had ended, her journey with Indian cricket would continue.

‘Captaincy Ends, The Journey Continues’

Harmanpreet reflected on the responsibility of leading India and said she had always tried to put the team first.

She said she had made difficult decisions as captain and had experienced both difficult periods and major highs during her leadership tenure.

Her message concluded with a clear indication that she intends to keep representing India as a player.

A Long Captaincy Tenure Comes to an End

Harmanpreet first took charge of India’s T20I team in 2016. She later became ODI captain in 2022 and took over as the all-format leader in 2023.

Her tenure included several major achievements, including India’s 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup triumph and the 2026 Asian Games gold medal.

Harmanpreet to Continue Playing for India

While Harmanpreet Kaur quits captaincy, she has not announced her retirement from international cricket.

She will continue to be available as a player, closing one chapter of her career while remaining part of the Indian women’s team setup.

Her decision now opens the way for the BCCI to appoint India’s next women’s captain across formats.