India's World Cup-winning captain Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down from the role across all three formats. The batter, 37, led India to their first-ever global women's title at the 2025 50-over World Cup on home soil. Harmanpreet is only the third Indian captain, after men's players Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni, to guide a team to victory in that event.
Her last act in charge was steering her country to a second straight Asian Games gold last month, with India thrashing Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final. Overall, she captained in five Tests, 51 one-day internationals and 155 T20 internationals. Writing on Instagram, Harmanpreet said: "This is not an easy decision.
It carries years of memories, emotions, sacrifices, and moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life. "I have given 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 ambitions. "There were moments when I had to put my individual performance, my own growth, and what I wanted for myself aside, because I believed the team had to come first.
"As a captain, I have had to make difficult 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 to give other players the opportunity to grow, believe in themselves and become the best versions of themselves.
"I leave the captaincy with a heart full of emotions but also with peace. Because I genuinely 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 carried the responsibility with pride, and I will always be grateful for the privilege of leading Indian women's cricket." Harmanpreet's final Test as captain was the 270-run drubbing of England at Lord's in July, the first women's Test to be held at the ground.
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