Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Mandhana Takes Over After Harmanpreet Leads India to World Cup
Harmanpreet Kaur led India’s women’s cricket team to win the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup.
Now she is giving up the captain’s job.
The BCCI has chosen Smriti Mandhana to lead the team in every format.
This is happening after a big success, not because the team has been doing badly.
Some people might have preferred Harmanpreet to stay captain longer.
Others think changing leaders now gives Mandhana time to build her own approach.
Harmanpreet may still play for India, and the article says her experience could be valuable.
Mandhana will need to keep the team’s competitive spirit while leading in her own way.
India will now be expected to keep competing with the strongest teams.
Harmanpreet Kaur is stepping down as captain of India’s women’s cricket team after leading it to the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup title.
The BCCI has appointed Smriti Mandhana captain across formats.
The article presents the change as a transition after success, not a response to a team decline.
Some may argue Harmanpreet should have continued leading in Tests and ODIs, while a timely handover could give Mandhana years to shape the team.
Harmanpreet’s future as a player remains an open question; the article says India should not dismiss her lightly.
- Who
- Harmanpreet Kaur and newly appointed captain Smriti Mandhana.
- What
- Harmanpreet is stepping down as captain, and Mandhana has been appointed captain across formats.
- When
- After India’s 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup victory; no exact date is stated.
- Where
- India’s women’s national cricket team.
- Why
- The article describes the appointment as a planned leadership transition as expectations for the team rise.
Keep Harmanpreet as captain
Begin the transition to Mandhana
Timing of the change
Keep Harmanpreet as captain
Harmanpreet could have remained captain in Tests and ODIs, with her experience valuable to a developing women’s game.
Begin the transition to Mandhana
Appointing Mandhana now gives her time to establish her methods and develop younger players before Harmanpreet eventually retires.
Harmanpreet’s future role
Keep Harmanpreet as captain
Her experience and history as a match-winner remain important, so losing the captaincy need not mean losing her place.
Begin the transition to Mandhana
The article notes questions about her recent batting form, while suggesting she could benefit from playing without leadership responsibilities.
- Outgoing captain
- Harmanpreet Kaur
- Incoming captain
- Smriti Mandhana
- Appointment
- Mandhana is captain across formats
- Recent achievement
- India won the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup
- Earlier milestone
- Harmanpreet scored 171 against Australia in the 2017 World Cup semi-final
- Appointing body
- Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)