Mumbai: Harmanpreet Kaur has announced her decision to step down as captain of the Indian women's cricket team across all formats, concluding a remarkable period marked by numerous achievements and milestones. During her tenure, she led India to several historic victories, including the country's first Women's Cricket World Cup title in 2025 and a series of significant Test match wins.

According to International Cricket Council, Harmanpreet took over as the full-time T20I captain in 2016 and became the ODI captain in 2022. Under her leadership, she captained India in 211 matches. Notably, in September 2026, she became the first captain to lead a team in 150 T20Is. Her captaincy saw India clinch their maiden Women's Cricket World Cup in 2025, joining the ranks of Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni, who have also led India to 50-over World Cup victories.

One of the most defining moments of Harmanpreet's captaincy was India's triumph in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025. After a narrow defeat in the 2017 final, India made a strong comeback in 2025, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final to secure their first-ever World Cup title. Harmanpreet's strategic acumen and effective leadership were instrumental in India's success during the tournament.

Harmanpreet also led India to their first-ever Test win at Lord's in July 2026. The victory marked a significant achievement, as India won by 270 runs, witnessed by a record 37,846 spectators over four days. This was part of her impressive record of four Test wins in five matches as captain.

In December 2023, Harmanpreet captained India to a historic home Test victory over Australia, marking India's first win against the team in 46 years. Furthermore, she led India to successive gold medals in women's cricket at the Asian Games in 2022 and 2026, showcasing India's growing dominance in international cricket under her leadership.

Harmanpreet's tenure also included taking India to their first T20 World Cup final in 2020, despite falling short against Australia. The journey to the final was nonetheless a significant achievement, highlighting the progress made under her captaincy.

As Harmanpreet steps down, she leaves behind a legacy of pioneering achievements and a strengthened foundation for Indian women's cricket. Her contributions have been pivotal to the team's success, and her leadership will be remembered as a transformative period in the history of Indian cricket.