Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India women's captain in all three formats
Harmanpreet Kaur has announced her resignation as captain of the Indian women's cricket team across formats, weeks after leading it to gold at the 2026 Asian Games.
Veteran Indian women's cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur has given up the captaincy of the national team. She has announced her resignation as captain in all three formats. Known for aggressive batting, a fighting spirit on the field and standing by her team in pressure moments, Harmanpreet's decision comes as a big shock to fans.
The announcement comes shortly after the Indian women's team won the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games under her captaincy. She raised the matter of quitting the captaincy after winning gold, which surprised her admirers even more.
Harmanpreet announced her decision in an emotional social media post. She wrote that the decision to step down as captain of the Indian women's team in all three formats was not easy. The memories made as captain, the emotions attached and the sacrifices made will stay with her for life, she said.
In the post she also spoke of the sacrifices she made for the team. According to Harmanpreet, she has given Indian women's cricket her blood, sweat and time. Many times she put the team above her own performance and progress, because for her the team always came first.
She also said she had to take many difficult decisions as captain. Not every decision was understood or accepted by everyone, and some cost her personally. Yet every decision had a single aim: to make the team stronger, to give other players a chance to grow and to show trust in them.
Harmanpreet said that while she is emotional about leaving the captaincy, she is at peace at heart. She thanked her teammates, coaches, support staff, team management, the BCCI and her family.
At the end of the post she wrote, "The chapter of captaincy has ended, but the journey will continue." The message indicates that she will continue her journey with the Indian team as a player.
Harmanpreet Kaur is counted among the foremost players who have taken Indian women's cricket to new heights. As captain she saw many ups and downs, took tough decisions and always put the team above her personal success. By leaving the captaincy in all three formats, she has closed an important chapter of her career.
