Harmanpreet Kaur
The 37-year-old, who led India’s T20I side for a decade after taking over in 2016, became the ODI captain in 2022 before taking charge across formats in 2023. The biggest achievement of Harmanpreet Kaur’s captaincy was undoubtedly India’s historic triumph in the Women’s ODI World Cup in November 2025. India had come agonisingly close before, finishing runners-up in 2005 and 2017, but the trophy continued to elude the team. India won the women’s cricket gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where cricket made its return to the Games after a long absence. Nagoya: India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur, right, and Gunalan Kamalini pose for photographs with Gold medals after winning the women’s final T20I cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in the ongoing Asian Games 2026, in Nagoya, Japan. (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma) India then successfully defended its title at the 2026 Asian Games, once again finishing at the top of the women’s T20 competition. Under her leadership, India secured four Asia Cup titles, in 2012, 2016, 2022 and 2026, giving Harmanpreet the distinction of being the Indian captain with the most Asia Cup triumphs.
Because it came near the end of her captaincy tenure, providing another continental trophy to close one of the most successful leadership chapters in Indian women’s cricket, the 2026 title was especially important.
On Tuesday, she announced that she was ready to move on from leadership and return to playing simply “for the love of the game”. NEW DELHI: Harmanpreet Kaur ’s decision to step down as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all three formats marks the end of one of the longest and most significant leadership eras in Indian women’s cricket. “Captaincy ends. The journey continues,” Harmanpreet wrote in her farewell statement. Her tenure was defined by landmark victories, records and moments that helped shape the modern era of Indian women’s cricket. From finally winning the ODI World Cup to establishing herself among the most successful captains in T20I history, Harmanpreet leaves behind a remarkable leadership legacy. Here are the five biggest achievements of Harmanpreet Kaur’s captaincy stint. For decades, an ODI World Cup title had remained one of the biggest missing pieces in Indian women’s cricket. That changed under Harmanpreet. Leading India on home soil, she oversaw the campaign that finally delivered the country its first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup title. The achievement carried enormous significance not only for Harmanpreet personally but also for the growth and visibility of women’s cricket in India. Harmanpreet Kaur with World Cup title The triumph represented the culmination of years of progress. India had developed into a consistent force in international cricket, producing a generation of players capable of competing with the world’s best. Harmanpreet’s leadership was central to that transition. Winning a World Cup as captain is the defining achievement of any international cricketer. For Harmanpreet, doing so with the Indian women’s team made the moment even more significant. The title also ensured that her captaincy legacy would be remembered for more than individual records. She became the leader who helped India cross the final barrier and turn years of promise into a world championship. Another significant achievement of Harmanpreet Kaur’s captaincy was leading India to gold medals at consecutive Asian Games, reinforcing the team’s dominance in the T20 format on the continental stage. Harmanpreet’s side emerged victorious in the T20 competition, securing India’s first-ever Asian Games gold in women’s cricket. The back-to-back triumphs highlighted the consistency of the Indian team under Harmanpreet’s leadership and added another pair of major medals to her captaincy résumé. Winning one Asian Games gold was a landmark achievement. Repeating that success four years later demonstrated that India had established itself as the dominant force in the continental competition. Another defining feature of Harmanpreet’s captaincy has been India’s dominance in the continental game. The Asia Cup has traditionally been an important tournament for women’s cricket in the region, providing teams with an opportunity to test themselves against familiar opponents while also developing younger players. For India, success in the competition has reflected the team’s sustained strength. Harmanpreet Kaur with Asia Cup trophy Harmanpreet’s four titles also demonstrate the longevity of her leadership. The fact that her successful campaigns stretched across more than a decade is particularly notable. Different teams, different opponents and different generations of Indian players came and went, but Harmanpreet remained a constant presence. The achievement saw her surpass Mithali Raj for the most Asia Cup titles by an Indian captain. That places Harmanpreet in distinguished company. Mithali was one of the central figures of Indian women’s cricket for more than two decades, and succeeding her in the record books is a significant marker of Harmanpreet’s own influence.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s impact was perhaps most pronounced in T20I cricket, where she spent a decade at the helm after taking over as India’s captain in 2016. Birmingham: Indian cricket (W) team skipper Harmanpreet Kaur after winning the women’s cricket T20 preliminary round match against Pakistan, at the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022, in Birmingham, UK. (PTI Photo/R Senthil Kumar)( Her T20I tenure also produced another extraordinary milestone. Harmanpreet became the first cricketer in history to captain a side in 150 T20I matches, underlining the remarkable length of her leadership career. She guided India to a dominant 270-run victory over England at Lord’s, in the first women’s Test match played at the historic London venue. The 270-run margin also highlighted India’s superiority during the match. Her five standout achievements, the 2025 ODI World Cup, the T20I captaincy wins record, four Asia Cup titles, the 150-match leadership milestone and the historic Lord’s Test victory, encapsulate the scale of her tenure. Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news , check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule . The 37-year-old said she had fulfilled her responsibility as captain and is now ready to return to the game without the pressure of leading the side.
Yet perhaps the most telling part of her farewell was her belief that the team is now “in a good place”. Earlier reporting noted: “Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team across all formats,” she posted on her Instagram account. Her remarkable longevity not only made her one of the longest-serving leaders in women’s international cricket but also saw her establish several historic records. One of her biggest achievements came when she surpassed Australia’s Meg Lanning to become the captain with the most wins in women’s T20 internationals. The record reflects the consistency and longevity of Harmanpreet’s leadership at a time when the shortest format was undergoing rapid growth around the world. Reaching that landmark required far more than simply holding the captaincy. It reflected sustained selection, fitness, performance and, crucially, the confidence of teammates and coaches over many years. During her tenure, women’s cricket witnessed the rise of franchise leagues, increasingly demanding international schedules and major tactical developments in T20 cricket. one of her most memorable leadership moments arrived in the longest format While Harmanpreet’s greatest achievements have largely come in limited-overs cricket. Lord’s is one of the most iconic grounds in world cricket, and playing there carries enormous significance regardless of format. For the women’s game, the occasion was historic in its own right. India’s victory made the event even more memorable. Harmanpreet Kaur wants more Test matches after historic win at Lord’s (Reuters Photo) A Test match places very different demands on a captain compared with T20 cricket. Leaders must manage sessions rather than individual overs, balance workloads across multiple days and constantly assess pitch conditions, field placements and bowling changes. Harmanpreet’s ability to guide India to a comprehensive victory demonstrated her adaptability as a leader. It was not merely a narrow escape or a hard-fought result; it was a commanding performance at one of cricket’s most famous venues. For Harmanpreet, the achievement added another dimension to her captaincy record. Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision to step down brings an era to a close, but her contribution to Indian women’s cricket will extend far beyond captaincy statistics. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines She led India through a period of enormous change, from the rapid growth of T20 cricket to the expansion of women’s franchise leagues and the eventual breakthrough of a World Cup triumph. Harmanpreet is stepping away from the leadership role, but not from the game. As she put it, she is now ready to play for the love of cricket again. The captaincy may have ended. The journey, however, continues. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
Earlier reporting noted: ‘I feel I have done my duty’: Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India captain Harmanpreet Kaur (BCCI Photo) Earlier reporting noted: India women’s long-serving captain Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down from captaincy in all three formats.
