Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of India's women's cricket team across all three formats, with fellow batter Smriti Mandhana appointed as her replacement.
Key facts
- Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as India captain across all three formats.
- Smriti Mandhana has been named as her successor.
- Harmanpreet led India to a World Cup win during her tenure.
- Both players are batters within the India squad.
- The change was reported on 6 October 2026.
India’s women’s cricket team has a new leader after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the captaincy across all three formats of the game, according to Sky Sports and the BBC.
Smriti Mandhana has been named as Harmanpreet’s successor, taking over the role for the national side. Both Harmanpreet and Mandhana are batters within the India squad.
Harmanpreet departs the role having captained India to a World Cup win, according to Sky Sports, which described her as India’s World Cup-winning captain.
The BBC reported that Harmanpreet leaves her role as national team captain across all three formats, with Mandhana stepping in as the replacement.
The decision, reported on 6 October 2026, marks a significant leadership transition for Indian women’s cricket as Mandhana takes charge of the side.
The sources did not provide further detail on the reasons behind Harmanpreet’s decision or the terms of Mandhana’s appointment.
Why it matters
The captaincy change marks a major shift at the top of India's women's cricket team, one of the leading sides in the international game. Handing leadership to Smriti Mandhana sets the direction for the team across all formats going forward.
Frequently asked questions
Who is India's new women's cricket captain?
Smriti Mandhana has been named as India's new captain, replacing Harmanpreet Kaur, according to Sky Sports and the BBC.
Why did Harmanpreet Kaur leave the captaincy?
The sources report that Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the role across all three formats, but they did not give a reason for her decision.
Did Harmanpreet Kaur win a World Cup as captain?
Yes. Sky Sports described Harmanpreet Kaur as India's World Cup-winning captain.