Harmanpreet Kaur’s tenure as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team has officially concluded, as she announced her resignation on October 3, 2026. The 37-year-old cricketer’s journey as a leader has significantly reshaped her role from being a formidable middle-order batswoman to one of the most revered captains in Indian cricket history.

Kaur first assumed leadership responsibilities in T20I cricket back in 2016 and subsequently became the full-time captain for One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Test matches in 2022. This promotion followed the retirement of Mithali Raj, a celebrated figure in Indian cricket. Her captaincy traces a remarkable path that culminated in numerous accolades, positioning her among a select few within the sport.

A landmark achievement during her captaincy occurred in November 2022, when Kaur led India to their first ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup victory on home turf, a feat that aligns her with legendary captains Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni, making her the third Indian captain to secure a 50-over World Cup title.

Record-Breaking Captaincy Tenure

Kaur’s legacy further solidified as she joined a distinguished group of five Indian captains who have lifted a World Cup, which includes prominent leaders like Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, who have both achieved T20 World Cup victories in 2024 and 2026, respectively. This achievement underscores Kaur’s central role in elevating Indian women’s cricket to new heights.

Notably, her impact was especially felt in the T20 format, where she guided the Indian team to the semi-finals in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cups of 2018 and 2023, as well as leading them to the finals in 2020, where India finished as runners-up. Noteworthy is her record of captaining the country in 155 T20Is, a milestone that makes her the first captain in international cricket, male or female, to lead a team in over 150 matches within this format.

Kaur’s final assignment concluded successfully, as India clinched a second consecutive gold medal at the Asian Games in 2023, further enhancing her already impressive reputation as a winning captain.

Significant Milestones and Achievements

While the World Cup triumph stands out as a pinnacle achievement, Kaur’s tenure was laden with other significant milestones. She captaincy included leadership in five Test matches and 51 ODIs, in addition to her record-setting 155 T20I appearances. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, she led India to a silver medal, delivering a memorable 65-run innings in the final, although Australia ultimately seized the gold.

Throughout her leadership, Kaur has been pivotal in guiding Indian women’s cricket through a dynamic phase marked by increasing ambition and a stronger global presence. Her leadership signified a breakthrough, delivering India its first Women’s Cricket World Cup title, alongside securing two Asian Games gold medals and achieving numerous significant tournament performances.

Reflecting on her journey, Kaur’s role from her initial leadership of the T20 side in 2016 to triumphantly raising the World Cup trophy nearly a decade later exemplifies a narrative of perseverance, growth, and historic accomplishments. As she steps down, her contributions will surely resonate within the annals of Indian cricket history.

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