Smriti Mandhana named India's new women’s captain, succeeding Harmanpreet Kaur.
Hours after Harmanpreet announced her resignation, the BCCI officially handed the reins to Mandhana, who has already led the side in 18 T20Is and four ODIs. The left‑hander’s experience runs deep, from a debut in 2013 to steering Royal Challengers Bengaluru to two WPL titles in 2024 and 2026.
BCCI president Mithun Manhas said, “She has been an important part of Indian cricket for many years and has consistently shown the qualities required to lead from the front.” Saikia echoed, “Her experience and temperament will be valuable as she takes on this responsibility.” And Mandhana herself added, “To be given the responsibility of leading India is a very special honour—this is something I will value deeply.”
Harmanpreet, who guided India to its maiden Women’s World Cup title in 2025 and two Asian Games golds, will remain in the squad as a player. The transition comes as India gears up for a T20I and ODI tour of Zimbabwe, with Mandhana set to captain the team.
Looking ahead, the Zimbabwe series will test Mandhana’s leadership on the field. The next match is a T20I at Harare on 15 November, followed by an ODI on 19 November. The challenge will be to keep the momentum from the recent World Cup win while navigating a new captaincy regime.