Smriti Mandhana named India women’s captain as Harmanpreet quits
The BCCI on October 6 named Smriti Mandhana as the new captain of the Indian women's cricket team after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the role across all formats.
The decision followed a review meeting in Guwahati on October 5, with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirming Mandhana's appointment. Harmanpreet announced her decision in a social media post.
Mandhana, who has served as Harmanpreet's deputy, has led India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs. She has also led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to two Women's Premier League titles, in 2024 and 2026.
The left-handed opener recently became the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket and holds the record for most international centuries in women's cricket, with 18.
"To be given the responsibility of leading India is a very special honour," Mandhana said, thanking Harmanpreet for her commitment as captain over the years.
Harmanpreet led India to their first ODI World Cup title in 2025. Mandhana's first assignment as full-time captain will be the home series against Zimbabwe, with three T20Is in Raipur from October 16 and three ODIs in Vadodara.
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