Smriti Mandhana Named India's All-Format Women's Captain as Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down

Smriti Mandhana has been appointed India's new all-format women's captain, succeeding Harmanpreet Kaur, who stepped down from the role after nearly a decade at the helm.

Mandhana, who has been part of the Indian team since 2013, served as Harmanpreet's vice-captain for much of her tenure. She has previously led India in four ODIs and 18 T20Is and has also captained Maharashtra in domestic cricket and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women's Premier League (WPL).

The 29-year-old's first assignment as India's all-format captain will be the upcoming limited-overs tour of Zimbabwe. The series will begin with three T20Is in Raipur from October 16.

Mandhana was also part of the selection meeting on Tuesday, chaired by former India cricketer Amita Sharma, to finalise the squad for the Zimbabwe tour.

Mandhana Acknowledges Harmanpreet's Contribution

Reacting to her appointment, Mandhana described the new responsibility as a "special honour" and paid tribute to Harmanpreet for her contribution to Indian women's cricket.

"I would also like to acknowledge Harmanpreet and the contribution she has made as captain over the years," Mandhana said, as quoted by the BCCI. "She has led the team with great commitment and has been an important part of our journey."

Mandhana also acknowledged the responsibility that comes with leading India and said she was looking forward to working with the team and learning in the process.

"I understand the responsibility that comes with this role and look forward to working with the team, learning along the way and giving my best to take Indian cricket forward," she said.

Appointment Comes After Review Meeting

Mandhana's appointment follows a review meeting held in Guwahati on Monday. The meeting was chaired by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and attended by Mandhana, Harmanpreet and head coach Amol Muzumdar.

The meeting focused on India's future roadmap, with major tournaments on the horizon, including next year's inaugural Women's Champions Trophy in February, as well as the 2028 T20 World Cup and Los Angeles Olympics.

Mandhana's Record Strengthens Her Claim

Mandhana's elevation to the captaincy comes after several years of establishing herself as one of India's most important all-format players.

Earlier this year, she led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their second WPL title and finished as the team's top scorer in the final.

In September, Mandhana surpassed Mithali Raj to become the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket across formats. Her 18 international centuries are also the most by any player in women's cricket.

She is additionally the first Indian woman to score centuries in all three international formats.

With a wealth of international experience and leadership exposure behind her, Mandhana will now take charge of India's women's team across Tests, ODIs and T20Is as the side begins a new chapter under her leadership.