Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down as Captain After Leading India to World Cup Victory

Harmanpreet Kaur's leadership of the Indian women's cricket team culminated in a World Cup victory in 2025, marking a significant achievement after years of near misses. Kaur, who became captain in the Twenty20 format in 2016, led India to their first World Cup final in 2017 and subsequently to the finals of the T20 World Cup in 2020 and the Commonwealth Games in 2022. After defeating Australia in the 2025 World Cup semifinal and South Africa in the final, Kaur announced her resignation as captain on October 6, 2026, after a decade of leadership. In her Instagram post, she expressed the difficulty of her decision but confirmed her intention to continue playing international cricket. Smriti Mandhana, who served as Kaur's deputy, has been appointed as the new captain. Kaur's tenure included 5 Test matches, 51 ODIs, and 155 T20Is, with win percentages of 80%, 58.82%, and 59.35%, respectively. Her leadership transformed the Indian women's team, encouraging a more aggressive style of play. Kaur's last match as captain was at the Asian Games in Japan, where India won a gold medal. Her influence on the team was noted by former Australia captain Alyssa Healy, who praised Kaur's impact on the modern game. Kaur's leadership journey included significant victories and challenges, ultimately leading to India's first ODI World Cup title.