New Delhi: Indian women’s cricket witnessed a major leadership change on Tuesday as World Cup-winning captain Harmanpreet Kaur decided to step down from captaincy across all formats. She announced her decision through social media. However, Kaur has made it clear that she is not retiring from international cricket and will continue to represent India as a player.

Harmanpreet’s decision marks the end of an important chapter in Indian women’s cricket. Under her leadership, the team achieved several significant milestones. The biggest achievement came in 2025, when India won the Women’s ODI World Cup on home soil for the first time. The historic triumph cemented Harmanpreet’s place among the most influential captains in Indian women’s cricket.

Nearly a Decade at the Helm

Harmanpreet took charge of India’s T20I team as captain in 2016. She later became the full-time captain across the ODI and Test formats in 2022.

Over the years, she led India through several major international tournaments and challenging series. Her long tenure made her one of the most experienced leaders in women’s international cricket.

During her captaincy, India also achieved notable success at the Asian Games, winning the women’s cricket gold medal. The achievement added another important milestone to her leadership career.

World Cup Triumph Became Her Biggest Achievement

The defining moment of Harmanpreet’s captaincy came during the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup. India lifted the prestigious trophy on home soil, creating history in front of its home supporters.

With the World Cup victory, Harmanpreet joined the select group of Indian captains who have led the country to an ODI World Cup title, alongside Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India also acknowledged her contribution and leadership, with the World Cup triumph standing out as the biggest achievement of her captaincy.

An Emotional Decision to Leave Captaincy

Harmanpreet indicated that giving up the captaincy was not an easy decision. Leading the national team brought numerous challenges, responsibilities, sacrifices and emotional highs and lows.

During her tenure, she often had to put the team’s interests ahead of her personal ambitions and individual priorities. With the leadership responsibility now behind her, she can concentrate more closely on her role as a player.

Her Association With Indian Cricket Continues

Stepping down as captain does not mean the end of Harmanpreet’s journey with the Indian team. She remains committed to playing for India and is expected to contribute as one of the team’s senior players.

Her experience and understanding of international cricket could also prove valuable to younger members of the squad. Her presence in the dressing room can provide leadership and guidance even without the formal captaincy role.

The BCCI has also welcomed her decision to continue playing and recognised the value of her experience to the national team.

Impressive Captaincy Record

Harmanpreet led India in five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20 internationals as captain. She has also established herself as one of the most experienced players in women’s international cricket.

Her tenure included major achievements such as the ODI World Cup triumph and Asian Games gold, along with several memorable performances across international competitions.

Her departure from the captaincy therefore represents an important transition for Indian women’s cricket.

Focus Turns to the Next Captain

With Harmanpreet stepping aside, attention will now turn towards the appointment of India’s next women’s captain.

The new leader will face the challenge of maintaining the team’s recent momentum while balancing the experience of senior players with the energy and potential of emerging talents.

For Harmanpreet, however, this is not the end of her cricketing journey. It represents the beginning of a new phase in her career, where she can concentrate on contributing to the Indian team as a player and sharing her experience with the next generation.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s captaincy chapter may have come to an end, but her contribution to Indian women’s cricket and the legacy of her leadership will remain an important part of the team’s history.