Smriti Mandhana has been appointed the new captain of the India women’s cricket team after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the leadership role across all formats. The change marks a significant new chapter for Indian women’s cricket, with Mandhana taking charge after serving as Harmanpreet’s deputy and gaining leadership experience at both international and franchise level.
Smriti Mandhana Takes Charge Across All Formats
The BCCI has handed the captaincy to Smriti Mandhana, making her the leader of India’s women’s team across formats. The left-handed opener has already captained India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs, giving her valuable experience ahead of taking on the full-time role.
Mandhana has also established herself as one of the leading batters in women’s international cricket. Her consistency at the top of the order, combined with her previous leadership opportunities, made her a natural choice to guide the team into its next phase.
Her appointment also comes with significant franchise leadership experience. Mandhana has captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League and led the franchise to WPL titles in 2024 and 2026. That experience is expected to strengthen her credentials as she begins her tenure with the national side.
Mandhana’s Leadership Experience
Although this will be a new responsibility at the highest level, Mandhana is not unfamiliar with leading India. She has stepped in as captain previously when required and has been part of the team’s leadership group for several years.
The new India women’s captain also brings considerable international experience. Since making her debut in 2013, Mandhana has become one of the most prominent figures in Indian women’s cricket and recently moved past Mithali Raj to become the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket.
Her challenge now will be to combine her individual batting responsibilities with the demands of leading India in all formats.
Harmanpreet Kaur Ends Successful Captaincy Era
Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision brings an important chapter in Indian women’s cricket to a close. The 37-year-old stepped down from captaincy across all formats on October 6, 2026, while confirming that she intends to continue representing India as a player.
Harmanpreet first took charge of India’s T20I side in 2016 before becoming the full-time ODI and Test captain in 2022 following Mithali Raj’s international retirement. During her leadership, India achieved several major milestones.
Most notably, Harmanpreet led India to their first-ever Women’s Cricket World Cup title in 2025. She also guided the team to four T20 Asia Cup titles and two Asian Games gold medals during her leadership career.
Harmanpreet has captained India in five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is, underlining the scale of her contribution to the national team. Despite stepping away from captaincy, she remains an important member of the squad.
A New Era Begins for India Women
The transition from Harmanpreet Kaur to Smriti Mandhana represents more than simply a change of captain. It gives India a new leadership voice while retaining the experience of one of the country’s most accomplished players within the squad.
Mandhana will now be responsible for guiding a team containing established stars as well as emerging young players. Her ability to manage different formats, maintain consistency and handle pressure will be closely followed as India begins this new era.
Her first major assignment as full-time captain will come against Zimbabwe. India are scheduled to play three T20Is followed by three ODIs in a bilateral series beginning October 16. The T20Is will be played in Raipur, while the ODI matches are scheduled for Vadodara.
What Mandhana’s Appointment Means
For Indian women’s cricket, the appointment provides continuity while also opening the door to a fresh leadership approach. Mandhana has already earned respect through her performances and franchise captaincy, but leading India across formats will present a considerably bigger challenge.
With Harmanpreet continuing as a player, Mandhana will also have the benefit of an experienced former captain within the dressing room. That combination could prove valuable as India looks to build on recent successes and prepare for future international challenges.
For cricket fans, the arrival of a new captain adds another storyline to follow closely. As Howzzat continues to cover the latest developments in international cricket, Smriti Mandhana’s leadership journey will be one of the key stories in women’s cricket.
Smriti Mandhana’s India Captaincy Era Begins
Smriti Mandhana now enters one of the biggest leadership roles in women’s cricket. Taking over from a World Cup-winning captain is a demanding assignment, but her previous international and WPL leadership experience provides a strong foundation.
The coming series against Zimbabwe will offer the first opportunity to see how Mandhana shapes the team and approaches her new responsibilities. With Harmanpreet Kaur remaining available as a player, India begin this transition with both new leadership and valuable experience in the squad.
The change signals the beginning of a new era for India women’s cricket, with Smriti Mandhana now at the centre of the team’s next chapter.
