Why did Harmanpreet Kaur step down as India captain? Smriti Mandhana set to take charge

Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down as India captain on Tuesday.

Smriti Mandhana now takes charge of the Indian women’s side, with the BCCI confirming her appointment on Tuesday, only hours after Harmanpreet announced she was leaving the captaincy in all formats.

Advertisement

Mandhana has been in the Indian set-up since 2013 and has already captained India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs, so this isn’t unfamiliar ground. The opener is among the leading batters in the game, with more than 10,000 runs across formats.

Harmanpreet’s decision didn’t come out of nowhere. Mandhana was the obvious successor, and it was no secret she’d grown impatient with the selectors, who kept the status quo even after India ended their ICC trophy drought with the ODI World Cup win at home last year.

In a recent interview, she said she was ready to lead, and after the Asian Games gold, she added that India should be aiming for bigger tournaments.

Advertisement

The T20 side was the sore spot. India exited back-to-back T20 World Cups early, and questions about leadership started there.

According to reports, at a review meeting in Guwahati, chaired by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, it was made clear to Harmanpreet that a change of guard was coming. She then took matters into her own hands.

Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

Harmanpreet began by admitting how hard it was, describing it as a decision full of memories, sacrifices and emotions.

“This is not an easy decision,” Harmanpreet wrote. “It carries years of memories, emotions, sacrifices, and moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Advertisement

She then talked about what she gave up along the way. By her account, there were times when her own form and ambitions had to take a back seat.

“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.”

She also defended the calls she made, saying some weren’t understood at the time, but that each had the same aim.

“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,” she added.

Advertisement

“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.

“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.”

Harmanpreet’s time as skipper started with a final and ended with one. In 2012, with Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami unavailable, she captained India as a stand-in in the T20 Asia Cup final against Pakistan.

Advertisement

Fourteen years later, her last game in charge was the Asian Games gold-medal match in Nagoya, which India won by 147 runs against Sri Lanka.

In between came 211 matches as captain, 126 wins, eight title or gold-medal finishes, India’s first women’s ODI World Cup triumph in 2025 and more T20I appearances as captain than anyone in international cricket.