Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India women’s captain across formats, says ‘Captaincy ends, the journey continues’
PTC Web Desk: Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all three formats, bringing an end to one of the longest leadership tenures in women’s international cricket in the country.
The veteran all-rounder announced her decision on Tuesday, saying she had fulfilled her responsibility as captain and was now looking forward to playing the game purely for her love of cricket.
The development followed a BCCI review meeting in Guwahati, where the recent performances and overall direction of the women’s team were discussed. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and head coach Amol Muzumdar were among those present at the meeting.
Harmanpreet's association with India's captaincy dates back to 2012, when she first led the side in a T20 match against Pakistan in Guangzhou. She later became India's full-time T20I captain in 2016.
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Following Mithali Raj's retirement, Harmanpreet was handed the permanent ODI captaincy in 2022. She subsequently became India's all-format captain in 2023.
Announcing her decision through social media, Harmanpreet described the move as an emotional one, reflecting on the sacrifices and responsibilities that came with leading the national side.
She said she had often put her personal ambitions and individual game aside for the team's interests and had faced both difficult periods and memorable highs during her leadership journey.
Despite stepping away from captaincy, Harmanpreet Kaur made it clear that she intends to remain closely involved with the Indian team as a player. She expressed confidence in the current group, pointing to its talent, character and belief in the future.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s full statement
Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team across all formats.
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 have seen it all.
I have seen the lowest moments, the heartbreak, the criticism, the doubts and the days when nothing seemed to go our way. And I have also experienced the highest highs - the victories, the celebrations, the pride of representing our country, and the moments that made every sacrifice worth it.
I leave the captaincy today 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.
Now, it is time for me to turn the page.
Captaincy may end today, but my love for Indian cricket never will.
Thank you to every teammate, coach, support staff, management , BCCI , family members every single fan who stood by me through the highs and lows.
Blood. Sweat. Sarifice. Pride.
I gave it all
Now, I’m ready to play for the love of the game again.
Captaincy ends. The journey continues.
- PTC NEWS
