Smriti Mandhana succeeds Harmanpreet Kaur as India captain across all formats

Smriti Mandhana has been appointed captain of India's women's cricket team across all formats after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down, according to BBC News. The change puts the opening batter and long-serving deputy in charge less than a year after Harmanpreet led India to their first women's World Cup title in 2025.

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BBC cricket writer Ayaz Memon reported that the leadership change was ratified at a review meeting attended by Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Devajit Saikia, coach Amol Muzumdar and both players. Mandhana, 30, succeeds the 37-year-old Harmanpreet in a handover covering Twenty20 internationals, one-day internationals and Tests, rather than a change confined to one format.

Harmanpreet subsequently announced her decision on Instagram and indicated that she intends to continue playing. Her departure from the captaincy therefore does not amount to an announcement of retirement from international cricket. The BBC report said her future as a player remains a separate matter for the BCCI, with the leadership transition settled but her next chapter in the side still to be determined.

The handover follows recent Indian victories in the Asia Cup and Asian Games, as well as the team's World Cup breakthrough. In that 2025 tournament, Harmanpreet scored 89 in the semi-final against Australia, contributing alongside a century from Jemimah Rodrigues. India then defeated South Africa in the final to secure the trophy, eight years after finishing runners-up to England.

Harmanpreet had taken over the T20 captaincy from Mithali Raj in 2016 before assuming responsibility across all formats in 2022. She made her India debut in 2009, aged 20, and established herself through middle-order batting, off-spin and fielding. Her century against Australia in the 2017 World Cup semi-final was another major performance on India's route to a final, although England won the subsequent title match.

Mandhana now moves from the deputy's role into the position previously held by the captain of India's first women's World Cup-winning side. The appointment gives her responsibility for all three international formats, while Harmanpreet has made clear that she wants to continue her playing career beyond the end of her time as captain.