Stories
Harmanpreet Kaur Resignation: Did BCCI Pressure India's Captain?
- •Harmanpreet Kaur abruptly stepped down from captaincy across all three formats just a day after a review meeting with BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia and Head Coach Amol Muzumdar in Guwahati.
- •Questions are being raised over whether her resignation was entirely voluntary or if she was forced to step down due to mounting pressure.
- •At 37 years old, age and a transition phase for Indian women's cricket are seen as potential factors behind the leadership change.
- •Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has previously expressed a desire to lead, and former players like Diana Edulji had demanded leadership changes following early exits.
- •Despite stepping down from the captaincy, Harmanpreet Kaur has confirmed she will continue playing for India in all formats.
Key Questions Answered
Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from her captaincy following a review meeting in Guwahati with BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia and Head Coach Amol Muzumdar. Her decision comes amidst a period of transition in Indian women's cricket, considerations around her advancing age at 37, and growing calls to provide leadership opportunities to younger players like Smriti Mandhana.
Under Harmanpreet Kaur's leadership, the Indian team won the Women's ODI World Cup for the first time by defeating South Africa in the 2025 final. Additionally, the team secured the gold medal in the Asian Games for the second consecutive time under her tenure.
Smriti Mandhana, who has served as the team's vice-captain, has publicly expressed her desire to take over the leadership role on several occasions. Former players like Diana Edulji have also called for a leadership transition to give Mandhana a sustained run as captain and begin succession planning for future tournaments.
