"Not an easy decision": Harmanpreet Kaur pens down emotional post after stepping down as India captain

Harmanpreet Kaur, who led the Indian side to their first women’s global title at last year’s ODI World Cup, has stepped down as the leader of the side from all the three formats of the game as she announced her decision via an Instagram post. Having given up the leadership, she has vowed to play for the love of the game again. 

The 37-year-old led the blue brigade in five Tests, 51 ODIs, and 155 T20Is as he last game as the leader came through leading the side to their second successive Asian Games 2026 Gold Medal in Nisshin, beating Sri Lanka in the final.

Harmanpreet Kaur's full Instagram post: "captaincy ends. The journey continues”

The decision has come after the Indian vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, head coach Amol Muzumdar met BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia along with Harmanpreet to discussed the roadmap of the women’s team going ahead.

“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.” Harmanpreet expressed.

“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.” She wrote on the Instagram post.

The noise has been loud for Smriti Mandhana to take the captaincy in the future. In the last six months, she has been vocal regarding her preparation for the role. 

“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.” The Punjab-born wrote.  

“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.” She concluded on her Instagram post. 

Harmanpreet Kaur’s record as Indian captain across all formats

Harmanpreet first led the T20I side of India in 2012, but it wasn’t the case until their group-stage exit from their home T20 World Cup 2016 that she was considered a serious candidate for the role of the leadership. 

A couple of years from that position, she led the side to the T20 WC semifinals in the Caribbean after having taken over the role in the full-time leadership from Mithali Raj, and followed it up with a runners-up finish at the T20 WC in Australia 2020.

Harmanpreet’s stepping down as the captain will not change her stance as he would continue to be part of the shortest format. She is expected to continue leading the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 2027 season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) as they chase their third title.