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Smriti Mandhana has shared a heartfelt message for Harmanpreet Kaur after the latter stepped down as captain of the Indian women's cricket team across all three formats. Mandhana was subsequently named Harmanpreet's successor, bringing a new chapter to India's leadership group.
Harmanpreet Kaur's decision came after a decade at the helm across formats and shortly after she led India to their second successive Asian Games gold medal. While reports had suggested there had been differences between the two senior players, Mandhana's message publicly highlighted the bond and respect between them.
Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur not on good terms: Reports
Mandhana was the obvious candidate to take over after Harmanpreet decided to relinquish the captaincy. She has established herself as one of the leading batters in women's cricket and has also gained leadership experience with India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women's Premier League.
Harmanpreet Kaur, meanwhile, had been India's leader for a remarkable period. She first captained the side as a stand-in in 2012, became the full-time T20I captain in 2016 and took charge of the ODI side in 2022. She eventually became India's all-format captain.
Questions around India's leadership had increased after the team exited the 2026 T20 World Cup at the league stage, following a similar early exit in the 2024 edition. Mandhana had also previously indicated her readiness to take up greater leadership responsibility.
Reports suggested that the captaincy had created some unease between Harmanpreet and Mandhana, who had shared a strong professional relationship for years. A team source was quoted as saying the two were "not seeing eye to eye for a while", which had contributed to an uncomfortable atmosphere in the dressing room.
Meanwhile, Harmanpreet's captaincy ultimately ended after she led India to the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup title and the 2026 Asian Games gold medal.
Ten years of your leadership have been fantastic - Smriti Mandhana on Harmanpreet Kaur
Smriti Mandhana's message offered a different picture from the reports surrounding their relationship. After being appointed India's new captain, she acknowledged Harmanpreet's contribution and reflected on the years they had spent playing together.
"Its been a pleasure playing with you for so many years. Ten years of your leadership have been fantastic and together, We will strive to bring many more laurels for our nation," Smriti Mandhana stated on her Instagram story.
Skipper Smriti Mandhana's message to her predecessor, Harmanpreet Kaur. pic.twitter.com/fBHUf6XBS2
— Lavanya 🎙️🎥👩🏻💻 (@lav_narayanan) October 7, 2026
In another statement, Smriti Mandhana specifically thanked Harmanpreet for her contribution to the Indian team.
"I would also like to acknowledge Harmanpreet and the contribution she has made as captain over the years. She has led the team with great commitment and has been an important part of our journey," she stated.
Harmanpreet Kaur's major records as India captain
Harmanpreet leaves the captaincy with one of the strongest leadership records in Indian women's cricket. She led India in 211 international matches and finished with 126 wins, the most by an Indian women's captain.
Her biggest achievement came in 2025, when she became the first Indian women's captain to win an ICC World Cup. India defeated South Africa in the final to claim their maiden Women's ODI World Cup title. She also led India to four Asia Cup titles, two consecutive Asian Games gold medals and a Commonwealth Games silver.
Harmanpreet also finished with 92 T20I wins as captain, the most by any captain in women's T20I cricket. She registered four Test wins as captain, another record for an Indian women's captain.
Her leadership era therefore ends with a long list of milestones, even as Mandhana now takes responsibility for the next phase of Indian women's cricket. The transition also gives the two senior players an opportunity to continue working together, with Harmanpreet remaining part of the team as a player.
Also Read: Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana were not seeing eye to eye before leadership change
