Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Mandhana Praises Harmanpreet After India Captaincy Change
Smriti Mandhana is taking over as captain of India’s women’s cricket team.
She thanked Harmanpreet Kaur for leading the team for ten years.
Mandhana said it had been a pleasure to play alongside her.
Harmanpreet has stopped being captain, but she will still play for India.
Reports describe Mandhana’s new role as either white-ball captain or captain across formats.
Mandhana is expected to lead India in home matches against Zimbabwe later this month.
Harmanpreet’s time as captain included major tournament wins mentioned in the reports.
Other players also thanked her for her leadership and support.
Smriti Mandhana praised Harmanpreet Kaur’s decade of leadership in a social media message.
The BCCI appointed Mandhana as India women’s captain, with reports describing the role as white-ball or all-format.
Harmanpreet stepped down from captaincy but will remain in the Indian team.
Mandhana is scheduled to begin her full-time captaincy with home T20I and ODI series against Zimbabwe later this month.
Harmanpreet’s reported achievements as captain include India’s first ODI World Cup title in November 2025 and Asian Games gold medals in 2023 and 2026.
- Who
- Smriti Mandhana and former India captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
- What
- Mandhana praised Harmanpreet after being appointed India women’s captain.
- When
- Mandhana shared her message on Wednesday; Harmanpreet stepped down on Tuesday.
- Where
- The change concerns India’s women’s cricket team; Mandhana’s message appeared on Instagram.
- Why
- Harmanpreet stepped down from the captaincy after a decade, and Mandhana took over.
White-ball captaincy
All-format captaincy
Scope of Mandhana’s appointment
White-ball captaincy
One report says Mandhana was appointed captain of India in white-ball cricket.
All-format captaincy
Other reports describe Harmanpreet as stepping down across formats and Mandhana as the new all-format leader.
- New captain
- Smriti Mandhana
- Former captain
- Harmanpreet Kaur
- Harmanpreet’s tenure
- Ten years
- Appointment
- The BCCI appointed Mandhana on Tuesday.
- Upcoming series
- Home T20I and ODI series against Zimbabwe, scheduled for later this month.
- Reported achievements
- India’s maiden ODI World Cup title in November 2025 and Asian Games gold medals in 2023 and 2026 during Harmanpreet’s captaincy.
- Harmanpreet’s status
- She stepped down as captain but remains part of the Indian side and was named in both Zimbabwe-series squads.
