Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
India’s World Cup-winning captain and women’s team stalwart Harmanpreet Kaur has announced her decision to step down from her role on Tuesday, October 6. Harmanpreet’s decision comes after she guided India to the gold medal at the Asian Games 2026, thus preserving her legacy as one of India’s greatest women’s team captains.
Harmanpreet announced the decision via Instagram with a lengthy post, where she confirmed that she will continue to remain a part of the team and that she wanted to make the call to help the side get better. The call means that Harmanpreet will step down from the captaincy role in all formats of the game for India.
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The 37-year-old initially took over the role on a temporary basis in 2012 when she helped India win the Women’s T20I Asia Cup. She went on to take over as the full-time captain in 2016 and ushered in an era of greatness for the Indian team.
At 37, Harmanpreet’s tenure as India captain has come to an end after she led the side across five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is. The captaincy change followed a meeting in Guwahati involving Harmanpreet, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and head coach Amol Muzumdar with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, where the team’s future plans were discussed. Early reports on Tuesday suggested that the top brass was ready to stick with Harmanpreet for now and take a call in the future.
It is believed that Mandhana is in line to replace Harmanpreet as the new captain of the team across all three formats.
Following India’s comprehensive win in the Asia Cup, many of the pundits believed that it was time for a change at the top.
In her statement, Harmanpreet said it wasn’t an easy decision for her to make but believes that it was the right time for a change.
HARMANPREET KAUR STATEMENT IN FULL
“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.”
“| 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. Sacrifice. Pride. I gave it all. Now, I’m ready to play for the love of the game again. Captaincy ends. The journey continues,” read the statement from Harmanpreet.
HARMANPREET’S RECORD AS INDIA CAPTAIN
During her 10-year tenure as the captain of the Indian team, Harmanpreet enjoyed a successful period that had some incredible wins along the way. Harmanpreet has the most wins for a player as captain in women’s T20Is, winning 92 out of the 155 matches that she had led the team.
Harmanpreet won 30 out of the 51 matches as the ODI captain of the team, with her crowning moment coming during the Women’s World Cup 2025 on home soil. From being on the brink of an early exit, Harmanpreet masterminded a sensational turnaround for the team as they defeated South Africa to win the title at home. Incidentally, she took the final catch that sealed the deal for the team.
In Tests, Harmanpreet led the side in five matches, with the last one being a historic win over England at Lord’s.
During her tenure as the captain, India won three Asia Cups, one World Cup 2025, the Asian Games gold twice and the Commonwealth Games silver.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
