Harmanpreet Kaur steps down after leading Indian women’s cricket

Former Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Shikhar Dhawan have commended Harmanpreet Kaur following the conclusion of her tenure as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team in all formats. The batter announced her decision to resign on Instagram on October 6, 2026, after a highly successful period in the leadership role.

Harmanpreet guided India to a gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, marking the conclusion of her captaincy. Yuvraj Singh praised her on Instagram, stating, “You gave Indian cricket everything as captain, Harman. The responsibility, the pressure, the highs and the lows, you carried it all with pride. Well done for everything you’ve done for the team and for the nation.” Shikhar Dhawan echoed this sentiment on X, writing, “Leadership is never just about the title, it is about the impact you leave behind. @ImHarmanpreet, you have given Indian cricket a lot to be proud of. Wishing you the best for everything ahead!”

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In her Instagram post, Harmanpreet described her decision as difficult, reflecting years of memories, emotions and sacrifices. She said, “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.”

Her most notable achievement as captain was leading India to their maiden ICC Women’s ODI World Cup title in 2025. Speaking of her leadership, Harmanpreet stated, “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.”

Harmanpreet reflected on the challenges and triumphs faced during her captaincy, leaving the role with a sense of peace and pride. She said, “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. 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. Captaincy may end today, but my love for Indian cricket never will.”

She extended her gratitude to teammates, coaches, support staff, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), family and fans for their support throughout her captaincy. “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,” she added.

Harmanpreet first captained the Indian women’s T20 International team in 2016 and became full-time captain in ODIs and Test matches in 2022, succeeding Mithali Raj. She is one of only three Indian captains to win a 50-over World Cup, joining Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni. Additionally, she is among five Indian captains to have lifted a World Cup, alongside Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, who led India to T20 World Cup titles in 2024 and 2026 respectively.

Her tenure as T20I captain is particularly notable for leading India in 155 matches—the first captain in international cricket, male or female, to reach this milestone. Harmanpreet ended her captaincy on a high note with India securing their second consecutive Asian Games gold medal following success in 2023.

Beyond the World Cup victory, her leadership included guiding India to a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, highlighted by a 65-run innings in the final against Australia. Her captaincy spanned five Test matches and 51 ODIs, marking a period of elevated ambition, global recognition and landmark achievements for Indian women’s cricket.