Smriti Mandhana Appointed India Women's Cricket Captain

The Cliff News | 7 October 2026

Smriti Mandhana has been appointed the new captain of the Indian women's cricket team, succeeding Harmanpreet Kaur who has stepped down from leadership across all three international formats. This significant change follows a pivotal review meeting held by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Guwahati on Monday.

The meeting, presided over by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, was attended by Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and head coach Amol Muzumdar. Discussions centered on the future roadmap for the women's team. The decision comes amidst growing calls for Harmanpreet Kaur's removal as captain, particularly after India's failure to qualify for the knockout stages of the Women's T20 World Cup earlier this year in England.

Captaincy Transition After Review Meeting

Hours after the review meeting concluded, Harmanpreet Kaur formally announced her resignation as captain from all formats. The decision marks the end of her tenure, which saw her lead India in five Tests, 51 ODIs, and 155 T20Is. While it is understood she expressed a desire to lead at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, the selection committee, headed by Amita Sharma, reportedly was not keen on this prospect.

Reports suggest that Harmanpreet Kaur was offered the option to retain the ODI captaincy but ultimately chose to relinquish leadership across all formats. This move signifies a major shift in the leadership of the women's national team.

Harmanpreet Kaur's Emotional Farewell

In a heartfelt social media post, Harmanpreet Kaur described her decision as difficult, acknowledging the years of memories, sacrifices, and emotions attached to the captaincy. She emphasized her dedication to the team, stating, "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."

She further elaborated on the tough decisions she made as captain, acknowledging they were not always understood but were made with the sole intention of improving the team and fostering growth among other players. Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her peace in stepping down, believing the team is in a strong position with talented players and a promising future.

Mandhana's Readiness for Leadership

Smriti Mandhana has consistently expressed her readiness for the captaincy role and has demonstrated her leadership capabilities. Notably, she has successfully led the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to two Women's Premier League (WPL) titles, in 2024 and 2026, bolstering her credentials for the national captaincy.

Previously, Harmanpreet Kaur led India to their first ODI World Cup title last year. However, subsequent performances, including the T20 World Cup setback, led to scrutiny and calls for a leadership change, culminating in the BCCI's review meeting and her subsequent resignation.