New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Board of Control for Cricket in India has officially appointed star opening batter Smriti Mandhana as the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all three formats, marking the dawn of a new leadership era. The announcement followed the decision of veteran skipper Harmanpreet Kaur to relinquish the captaincy across formats, concluding one of the most decorated tenures in the nation’s sporting history. Harmanpreet, who took over T20I leadership in 2016 and subsequently assumed all-format command, confirmed her departure from the post while reiterating her intention to continue representing India purely as a player.
Harmanpreet leaves behind a storied legacy, most notably steering the squad to their historic maiden global title at the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup on home turf. Her final assignment at the helm culminated in defending the gold medal at the Asian Games. In her emotional farewell statement, the 37-year-old expressed that stepping down was a deeply reflective choice carried with years of memories and sacrifices, noting that she now looks forward to playing simply for the love of the game.
Mandhana’s elevation to the captaincy represents a seamless progression. Having served as the long-standing vice-captain, the prolific 30-year-old left-hander has accumulated substantial leadership experience on the international stage, previously deputising as captain across multiple series. Her calm tactical acumen, combined with her status as the leading run-scorer and century-maker in international women’s cricket, ensures widespread support and confidence from teammates and team management alike.
Her credentials as an astute leader received massive reinforcement through her franchise success in the Women’s Premier League. Mandhana famously guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to championship glory, displaying exceptional composure under pressure and orchestrating bold bowling changes that turned critical fixtures around. Her proven capacity to manage high-stakes environments in franchise cricket, united with her batting dominance, positions her well to steer the national squad through its upcoming international calendar.
