Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision to step down as India’s all-format captain has triggered an emotional wave of appreciation and gratitude throughout the cricketing fraternity. Saying the move by way of a heartfelt caption on her private Instagram handle on Tuesday morning, Harmanpreet introduced an finish to a defining leadership chapter, one that delivered historic titles, unforgettable victories and a long-lasting influence on Indian girls’s cricket.
The tributes started virtually immediately, with current teammates, former gamers, commentators and worldwide stars acknowledging the 37-year-old’s contribution. Smriti Mandhana, who has been appointed India’s new captain throughout all three codecs, paid tribute to Harmanpreet’s leadership and the example she has set for the next generation. Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Bharti Fulmali, Vaishnavi Sharma, Titas Sadhu and Jemimah Rodrigues have been among the Indian gamers to specific their gratitude.
The stylish top-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues shared a heartfelt story on her private Instagram handle which read: “Congratulations on every little thing you’ve achieved. Thanks for the years of leadership and for every little thing you probably did for the workforce!”
Harmanpreet’s tenure was outlined by landmark achievements. She led India to consecutive Asian Games gold medals, defeating Sri Lanka within the finals of the 2023 and 2026 editions. India secured the 2026 gold with a 147-run victory over Chamari Athapaththu’s side at Korogi Sports activities Park, Nisshin, on 22 September, following the 19-run triumph in Hangzhou on 25 September 2023.
She additionally guided India to their fourth ACC Girls’s T20 Asia Cup title in 2026, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 13 September. The victory added to India’s earlier titles in 2012, 2016 and 2022. During that event, Harmanpreet grew to become the primary player, male or female, to captain, in 150 T20Is.
Her greatest ODI achievement came on house soil in 2025, when India received their maiden senior-level ICC title by lifting the Girls’s ODI World Cup. Harmanpreet’s 89 off 88 balls within the semi-final against Australia, alongside Jemimah Rodrigues’ 127, powered India by way of a frightening chase of 339. India then defeated South Africa by 52 runs within the last at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, on 2 November.
Her leadership additionally produced memorable Take a look at victories. India defeated Australia by eight wickets at the Wankhede Stadium in December 2023, their first Take a look at win over Australia, and overcame England within the historic first girls’s Take a look at at Lord’s from 10 to 13 July 2026. Harmanpreet’s Take a look at captaincy report consists of an 80 per cent win rate, together with her solely defeat coming against Australia at Perth’s W.A.C.A. in March 2026.
Shikhar Dhawan, the previous males’s cricket workforce player, wrote: “Management is never just in regards to the title; it’s in regards to the influence you leave behind. Harmanpreet, you’ve given Indian cricket quite a bit to be proud of. Wishing you the best for every little thing ahead.” Harsha Bhogle, Anjum Chopra, Reema Malhotra and commentator Alan Wilkins joined the tributes, whereas South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp, former England bowler Kate Cross, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge and Nepal captain Indu Barma additionally saluted her affect beyond India.
Mandhana now begins a new period, supported by Shafali Verma as T20I vice-captain and Deepti Sharma as ODI vice-captain. Having received 11 of her 18 T20Is and all four of her ODIs as a stand-in captain, Mandhana has already shown promise. India’s transition begins against Zimbabwe of their historic white-ball bilateral sequence from 16 to 28 October 2026.
Yet earlier than the next chapter unfolds, the cricketing world has paused to recognise Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain who transformed pressure into purpose and formally left the leadership function of Indian cricket with a legacy that can endure far beyond the captaincy.
I am Yash Tailor, and I imagine work ought to be pushed by passion. Therefore, after finishing my Engineering, I selected to work within the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I actually get pleasure from what I do and provides my best to every job with vitality and purpose.
Supply: femalecricket.com
