Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India captain: Read full statement

Harmanpreet Kaur (ICC Photo) NEW DELHI: India’s ODI World Cup winning captain Harmanpreet Kaur of India has stepped down as captain in all three formats. Kaur has been India’s full-time T20I captain since 2018 and took charge of the ODI team in 2022, replacing legendary batsman Mithali Raj.“Today I am stepping down as the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all formats. It is not an easy decision. It carries with it years of memories, emotions, sacrifices and moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life,” Kaur wrote on Instagram.Harmanpreet made history by becoming the first woman captain to lead India to the ICC Senior World Cup title. She led India to their first ODI World Cup trophy after the team defeated South Africa on home soil.India also won four Asia Cup titles under Harmanpreet. The team finished on top in 2012, 2016, 2022 and 2026. She also led India to consecutive gold medals at the Asian Games. The team won gold in Hangzhou in 2022 before successfully defending their title at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games.Harmanpreet also led India to their first bilateral women’s ODI series win in England since 1999. India achieved a historic result in 2022. Her captaincy also brought big wins in the longer and shorter formats. India recorded a historic Test win against Australia in 2023 and secured a breakthrough T20I series win against England in 2025.Harmanpreet also became the first cricketer to captain a team in more than 150 T20I matches, surpassing leading male captains such as MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.Earlier this year, she led India to a 270-run victory over England in the first ever women’s Test played at Lord’s Cricket Ground.After years at the helm, Harmanpreet has now decided to step down from the captaincy and continue her playing journey.

Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as captain: Full statement

Today I retire as the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all formats.It’s not an easy decision. It holds years of memories, emotions, sacrifices and moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life.I gave 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 ambition. There were times when I had to put aside my individual performance, my own growth and what I wanted for myself because I believed that the team had to come first.As captain I had to make tough decisions.Decisions that were not always understood, not always easy and sometimes came at a personal cost. But every decision I made was with one intention – to make this TEAM better and give other players the opportunity to grow, believe in themselves and become the best version of themselves.I’ve seen it all.I’ve seen the deepest moments, the heartbreak, the criticism, the doubt, and the days when nothing seemed to go our way. And I’ve also experienced the highest highs – the victories, the celebrations, the pride in representing our country and the moments when every sacrifice was worth it.| leave the captaincy today with a heart full of emotion, but also with PEACE.Because I really believe my team is in a good place. A team with talent, character, belief and a future that I am incredibly excited to watch and be a part of.I feel I have done my duty.I gave this team everything I had. I have carried the responsibility with pride and will always be grateful for the privilege of leading Indian women’s cricket.Now it’s time for me to turn the page.The captain may end today but my love for Indian cricket will never end.Thank you to every teammate, coach, support staff, management, BCCI, family members, every fan who has stood by me through the highs and lows.Blood. Sweat. Sarifica. Pride.I gave it my allNow I’m ready to play again for the love of the game.The captain quits. The journey continues.