The 37-year-old announced her decision on Tuesday, saying she was leaving the captaincy with a sense of fulfilment and was ready to continue representing India simply for her love of the game.
Kaur ends decade-long T20 leadership reign
Kaur took over as India’s T20I captain in 2016, before becoming the team’s ODI captain in 2022 and subsequently taking charge across all three formats.
She leaves the leadership role having captained India in five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is. She also became the first cricketer, male or female, to captain a national side in more than 150 T20 internationals.
Her tenure produced several historic achievements, most notably India’s first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup title on home soil in 2025.
World Cup triumph crowns Kaur’s captaincy
Kaur made history last year when she led India to their maiden 50-over World Cup triumph, defeating South Africa in the final.
Her leadership also brought success in other major competitions. India won two Asian Games gold medals under Kaur, with the latest coming at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games. The team also won two T20 Asia Cup titles during her tenure.
Kaur also guided India to the semi-finals of the 2018 and 2023 Women’s T20 World Cups and the runners-up position at the 2020 tournament.
‘I feel I have done my duty’
Kaur confirmed that her decision was not taken lightly, describing the captaincy as a responsibility filled with memories, sacrifices and emotional moments.
She said she believed the Indian team was in a strong position for the future and that she was now ready to turn her attention back to playing.
Her decision followed a BCCI review meeting in Guwahati involving board secretary Devajit Saikia, head coach Amol Muzumdar, Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana.
Smriti Mandhana among possible successors
With Kaur relinquishing the captaincy in all three formats, India will now have to appoint a new leader.
Smriti Mandhana, who has served as Kaur’s deputy, has emerged as the leading candidate in reports surrounding the succession. However, the BCCI has not formally announced a replacement.
Kaur, meanwhile, is expected to remain available as a player for India.
A captaincy chapter closes
Kaur’s departure from the captaincy marks the end of a defining period for Indian women’s cricket.
From taking charge of the T20 side in 2016 to delivering the country’s first senior women’s ODI World Cup title, she leaves the role having overseen some of the biggest successes in the team’s history.
Her final message made clear that retirement from leadership does not mean retirement from international cricket.
The captaincy ends, but Harmanpreet Kaur’s playing journey with India continues.