Leadership Transition in Indian Women’s Cricket
Harmanpreet Kaur (37) has stepped down as skipper and her deputy Smriti Mandhana (30) has replaced her. Harmanpreet has quit as captain across all the three formats. She announced her decision a day after the meeting to review the women cricket in India took place in Guwahati on Monday. She announced her decision in an emotional Instagram post on Tuesday.
The Guwahati meeting was attended by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, national selectors, head coach Amol Mazumdar besides Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana. They met again on Tuesday. Smriti Mandhana’s name as captain across all the formats was announced by the BCCI. Harmanpreet was reportedly offered the option of continuing as ODI captain but chose to relinquish from the leadership of all the three formats. She said she would continue to play for the love of the game.
Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down with Emotional Tribute
“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.” True. She loved the game so much that she remained unmarried. “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,” she wrote.
Mandhana said she was ready for the Indian captaincy. She said, “I would like to acknowledge Harmanpreet’s contribution as captain over the years. She has led the team with a great commitment and has been an important part of our journey. I understand the responsibility that comes with the role.”
10 Years, World Cup Glory, and Iconic Wins
Harmanpreet captained India for a decade – in five tests, 51 ODIs, 155 T20s. She first led India in a T20 match in 2012. She became full-time T20 captain in 2016. She was ODI captain in 2022. She took over the reins from Hyderabad’s Mithali Raj as India’s all format skipper in 2023. Her crowning moment came at 2025 Women’s World Cup where India won over South Africa in a dramatic final and clinched the title in Navi Mumbai. Harmanpreet took an excellent catch to win the game and the World Cup. During her captaincy, India won three Asia Cups, the 2025 World Cup, two Asian Games gold medals and a Commonwealth Games silver. She also won most prestigious stand-alone Test at Lords in England.
Yuvaraj Singh, the veteran cricketer, said, “You gave Indian cricket everything as a captain, Harman. The responsibility, the pressure, the highs and the lows, you carried it all with pride. Well done for everything you have done for the team and for the nation.” Shafali Verma, the ace batter, said, “Harman di, your contribution to Indian women’s cricket is something that will be always remembered. You have led us through some incredible moments and helped shape the team we are today. Thank you for everything, captain.”
Harmanpreet’s Incredible Captaincy Career in Numbers
Harmanpreet’s success percentage is the highest by any Indian captain in Women’s tests. While she led the Indian women in five Tests, she won in four (80%). In ODIs she led in 51 matches and won 30 (61 %). In T20Is she led in 155 matches and won 92 (61.66%). She holds the world record for appearing as captain in largest number of matches. She has so far played in 210 T20Is. It is also a world record. She is the only one to complete double century of T20Is. Under her care Indian women won successive gold medals in Asian Games.
On 20 July 2017 in Derby Harmanpreet showed what kind of a mettle she was made of. India was playing against Australia. Australia won World Cup many times. None believed India had any chance against Aussies. Till then Harmanpreet faced only 91 balls in the entire tournament. She batted like a hurricane scoring 171 runs off 115 balls. Her legs were cramping so badly that she could barely stand between overs.
Iconic Derby Triumph to Her Final Gold in Japan
When she reached her hundred, she shouted at Deepti Sharma for almost getting her runout. The she hugged her. She made the last 71 runs in 25 balls. Virendra Sehwag was her childhood idol. In that match Indian women had made 281 for 4 in 42 overs and Australia fell short by 36 runs and India won.
There were, of course, highs and lows, as Yuvaraj put it. Harmanpreet’s captaincy came under scrutiny when India exited at the 2026 World Cup at league level in June following a similar disappointment at UAE in 2024. She had a very lean season with the bat also. She made only 71 runs in five matches in 2026 Asia Cup and just 59 runs in three matches in Asian Games, although India won both. The Indian team winning the Asian Games gold in Nissin, Japan, was her last hurrah.
Prolific Runs, WPL Titles, and Distinct Paths
Smriti Mandhana Steps Up as India Captain
The new captain Smriti Mandhana has been in terrific form with her bat in recent years. She has been the leading run-getter across the formats. She piled up 11,066 runs in 308 matches. She also is the lead batter with 4,867 runs in 172 T20I games. She captained Bengaluru team in women Premier League and won two titles in2024 and 2026.
There is a lot of contrast between the outgoing captain and the incoming one. While Smriti was born in a metropolitan city like Mumbai where she had every facility for training and coaching, Harmanpreet was born in a remote village of Moga in Punjab. The bus from Moga to Darapur used to leave at an unearthly hour early in the morning. Harmanpreet would be on the bus. If she fails to catch the bus, she was cycling covering 30 kilometers each way to reach a cricket academy that had no girls’ changing room, no proper nets and absolutely no patience for the idea that a woman could bat like a storm.
“Good Batting” Shirt to World Class Batter
Harmandar Singh, Harmanpreet’s father, worked as a clerk in the local court. He once bought a shirt for his daughter. The shirt had “Good Batting” written on it. Moga in late 1990s was not a place for female cricketers. But small towns in Punjab and Haryana produce stubborn people. Harmanpreet had no girls’ team to play with. She used to play with boys.
When Kamaldeesh Singh saw her at Gian Jyoti School Academy, she was already a player. He thought she would be a fast bowler who could bat a bit. She, however, turned out to be an accomplished batter who could also bowl off-spin. Those days the women cricketers were not paid at all. Harmanpreet had to go to Mumbai and join a job in Indian Railways and practise cricket. Mandhana did not have to do a job to keep her going. While Harmanpreet was a right-hander, Manthana was left-hander.
Prominent Journalist
Dr. K. Ramachandra Murthy is a versatile journalist with a distinguished career. Dr. Murthy began his extensive career with Andhra Prabha of The Indian Express group in Bengaluru. He was editor of Udayam, Vaartha and Andhra Jyothy. Dr. Murthy founded and edited HMTV news channel and The Hans India, an English newspaper. He was also editorial director of the Telugu newspaper, Saakshi. He was awarded Ph. D for his research work in rural reporting. Dr. Murthy’s five decades in journalism showcases his influential roles across both print and electronic media. He wrote the political biography of NTR published by Harper Collins.
Email: murthykondubhatla@gmail.com
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