Indian women’s team captain Harmanpreet Kaur has officially stepped down as captain in all formats. The decision marks the end of a defining era that delivered historic breakthroughs, including India’s ODI World Cup victory and Asian Games gold, while opening the door for long-time vice-captain Smriti Mandhana to usher in a new leadership phase. The big announcement came after a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) review meeting in Guwahati to evaluate the team’s performances in the past few months and the roadmap for the future. Chaired by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, the meeting was attended by Harmanpreet, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and head coach Amol Muzumdar.
While it isn’t known if Harmanpreet was persuaded to take such a decision in the meeting, the timing of the decision does leave the cricket fraternity guessing.
In a lengthy post on social media, Harmanpreet shared that it was not an easy decision but the time had come for her to step down, having given everything to the national team for years. It was in 2016 that Harmanpreet first took on the responsibility as India’s captain, having previously filled the role on a temporary basis.
“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,” she wrote in the post.