Smriti Mandhana Takes Over as India Women’s Captain After Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down

Smriti Mandhana has been appointed the new captain of the Indian women’s cricket team after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the leadership role.

The change marks a new chapter for Indian women’s cricket, with Mandhana taking charge after serving as Harmanpreet’s deputy. The left-handed opener brings significant international and franchise leadership experience to the position.

Mandhana’s appointment comes at an important stage for the Indian team as it prepares for its upcoming white-ball assignments.

Smriti Mandhana Named India Women’s Captain

Mandhana has previously led India in limited-overs cricket, giving her experience of handling the responsibilities that come with captaincy at the international level.

The batter has also developed considerable leadership experience in domestic and franchise cricket. She captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Women’s Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026, strengthening her credentials as a leader.

Her appointment now gives Mandhana the opportunity to lead India on a full-time basis and build the team around a new generation of players.

Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down

Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down after a significant period as India's women's captain.

She took over the T20I captaincy in 2012 and later became India's ODI captain. During her leadership, Harmanpreet was at the centre of several important moments in the development of women's cricket in India.

She will continue to remain an important player for the national team, with the leadership responsibility now moving to Mandhana.

Mandhana’s Leadership Experience

Although best known for her batting, Mandhana has steadily developed into an experienced leader.

She has previously captained India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs. Her leadership experience with Royal Challengers Bengaluru has also provided valuable exposure to managing a squad in high-pressure franchise cricket.

Mandhana's calm approach and long-standing experience at the international level will be closely watched as she begins her tenure as India captain.

A New Era for Indian Women’s Cricket

The leadership change comes as Indian women's cricket continues to expand both domestically and internationally.

Mandhana has been one of the most recognisable faces of the Indian women's game for several years. Her performances at the top of the order and growing leadership experience have made her a natural candidate for the role.

Her immediate challenge will be to maintain India's competitiveness across formats while developing the next generation of players.

Smriti Mandhana’s Captaincy Record

What’s Next for Smriti Mandhana?

Mandhana's first major assignment as India's new captain will come with the team's upcoming white-ball fixtures.

The new captain will be expected to balance her leadership responsibilities with her role as one of India's key run-scorers. Her performance at the top of the batting order will remain an important part of India's plans.

For Mandhana, the captaincy represents another major milestone in a career that has already included numerous individual and team achievements.

Final Word

Smriti Mandhana's appointment as India's women's captain marks the beginning of a new leadership era.

After years as one of India's leading batters and experience as both an international and franchise captain, Mandhana now takes on one of the biggest responsibilities in Indian women's cricket.

With Harmanpreet Kaur stepping aside from the captaincy, the focus will now turn to Mandhana and the direction she takes the team in the next phase of Indian women's cricket.