India women’s cricket legend Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain across all three international formats. The 37-year-old announced her decision on Instagram on Tuesday with saying she leaves the team in a "good place" and is ready to play solely for the love of the game.
Her announcement follows a meeting in Guwahati with BCCI officials to plan the team's future roadmap. Harmanpreet’s final stint as captain ended on a high note with leading India to a second straight Asian Games gold medal in Nisshin last month. Her crowning achievement remains captaining India to their first-ever women’s ODI World Cup title last year.
Over her career, Harmanpreet captained India in five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is. She first took charge of the T20I team in 2012 before becoming full-time captain in 2018 also leading India to the 2020 T20 World Cup final.
"I gave this team everything I had" Harmanpreet shared. "Captaincy may end today but my love for Indian cricket never will."
Her resignation paves the way for vice-captain Smriti Mandhana to take the helm. Mandhana has led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to two WPL titles and is widely expected to be named the next captain. Meanwhile, Harmanpreet plans to continue playing as a senior batter and will keep leading Mumbai Indians in the WPL.
