New Delhi: Harmanpreet Kaur, one of India’s longest-serving and most successful women’s cricket team captains, stepped down as the all-format skipper on Tuesday, saying that her duty was done and that she can go back to playing the sport for the love of the game again.
The announcement came after a BCCI review meeting in Guwahati, where the women’s team’s trajectory over the last few months was evaluated. The meeting was attended by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, and head coach Amol Muzumdar, as reported by Hindustan Times.
Harmanpreet first led the team in an Asia Cup match T20I match against Pakistan in 2012 at Guangzhou. She officially took over the role in the format in 2016, and was elevated to a full-time ODI leadership role in 2022 after the retirement of Mithali Raj, before becoming the all-format leader in 2023.
“Today, I step down as captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team across all formats,” she posted on her Instagram account.
“This is not an easy decision. It carries years of memories, emotions, sacrifices, and moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life,” Harmanpreet said in a lengthy statement.
“I have given everything I had to this team and to Indian women’s cricket – my blood, my sweat, my time, and many times, a part of my own game and personal ambitions. There were moments when I had to put my individual performance, my own growth, and what I wanted for myself aside, because I believed the team had to come first.
As a captain, I have had to make difficult decisions.
Decisions that were not always understood, not always easy, and sometimes came at a personal cost. But every decision I made was with one intention – to make this TEAM better and to give other players the opportunity to grow, believe in themselves and become the best versions of themselves.
I have seen it all.
I have seen the lowest moments, the heartbreak, the criticism, the doubts and the days when nothing seemed to go our way. And I have also experienced the highest highs – the victories, the celebrations, the pride of representing our country, and the moments that made every sacrifice worth it.
I leave the captaincy today with a heart full of emotions , but also with PEACE .
Because I genuinely believe My team is in a good place. A team with talent, character, belief and a future that I am incredibly excited to watch and be a part of .
I feel I have done my duty.
I gave this team everything I had. I carried the responsibility with pride, and I will always be grateful for the privilege of leading Indian women’s cricket.
Now, it is time for me to turn the page.
Captaincy may end today, but my love for Indian cricket never will.
Thank you to every teammate, coach, support staff, management , BCCI , family members every single fan who stood by me through the highs and lows.
Blood. Sweat. Sarifice. Pride.
I gave it all
Now, I’m ready to play for the love of the game again.
Captaincy ends. The journey continues,” she posted.
