Smriti Mandhana has been appointed the new captain of the Indian women’s cricket team after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the role on October 6, 2026. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Mandhana’s appointment on the same day, marking a new phase for the Indian women’s team.
Smriti Mandhana brings previous captaincy experience for India, having led the team in 18 T20Is and four ODIs. She has also captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League, giving her leadership experience at both international and franchise level.
Why Was Smriti Mandhana Appointed Captain?
Mandhana had served as Harmanpreet Kaur’s deputy and had already led India in limited-overs cricket. Her leadership experience also includes the Women’s Premier League, where Smriti Mandhana captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru to titles in 2024 and 2026.
The appointment followed Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision to step down as India captain. Kaur will continue to represent India as a player after stepping down from the leadership role.
What Is Smriti Mandhana’s Captaincy Record?
Before taking over the India captaincy, Mandhana had already led the national side in:
- 18 T20Is
- 4 ODIs
She has also led Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the WPL, including during the franchise’s title-winning campaigns in 2024 and 2026.
Mandhana has been part of India’s senior team since making her international debut in 2013 and has established herself as one of the team’s key batters.
What Records Has Mandhana Set?
Mandhana enters her new leadership role after reaching several significant milestones in 2026. During the 2026 Asia Cup, she became the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket, moving past former India captain Mithali Raj. She also reached 18 international centuries across formats.
Mandhana subsequently became the leading run-scorer in women’s T20Is, surpassing New Zealand’s Suzie Bates.
Smriti Mandhana’s transition to full-time captain is backed by a historic run-scoring spree across international cricket, cementing her position at the top of the global game:
- All-Time Leading Run-Scorer in Women’s International Cricket: Mandhana surpassed former India captain Mithali Raj’s record of 10,868 runs to become the highest overall run-scorer in women’s international cricket across all formats.
- Most International Centuries: With 18 international centuries (15 in ODIs, 2 in Tests, and 1 in T20Is), Mandhana broke Meg Lanning’s previous benchmark to become the outright record holder for the most hundreds in women’s international history.
- Leading Women’s T20I Run-Scorer: On September 20, 2026, during the Asian Games semi-final against Bangladesh, she surpassed New Zealand’s Suzie Bates (4,758 runs) to become the top run-scorer in Women’s T20 International history.
When Will Smriti Mandhana Lead India Next?
Mandhana’s first assignment as India’s new captain will be against Zimbabwe in October 2026.
India are scheduled to play three T20Is followed by three ODIs:
| DATE | MATCH | VENUE |
| October 16 | 1st T20I | Raipur |
| October 18 | 2nd T20I | Raipur |
| October 20 | 3rd T20I | Raipur |
| October 23 | 1st ODI | Vadodara |
| October 25 | 2nd ODI | Vadodara |
| October 28 | 3rd ODI | Vadodara |
The Zimbabwe series will therefore provide Mandhana with her first extended assignment as India’s new captain.
What Happened to Harmanpreet Kaur?
Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the captaincy on October 6, 2026, ending her tenure as India’s leader across formats. She will continue playing for India.
Kaur was a key figure in Indian women’s cricket and led the national team across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. Her decision brought an end to her captaincy tenure and paved the way for Mandhana’s appointment.
What Does Smriti Mandhana’s Appointment Mean for India?
Smriti Mandhana takes over as captain, equipped with deep international experience as a top-order batter, former vice-captain, and two-time Women’s Premier League champion. Crucially, this transition marks an evolution in leadership rather than a complete overhaul of the senior core. Former captain Harmanpreet Kaur remains an integral part of the playing squad, providing invaluable experience and middle-order stability as Mandhana steps into the primary leadership role.
Mandhana’s immediate focus will be balancing captaincy duties with her pivotal role at the top of India’s batting line-up. Her first major assignment at the helm begins with the upcoming home series against Zimbabwe, featuring three T20Is in Raipur starting October 16, 2026, followed by three ODIs in Vadodara. With Mandhana leading the side and Harmanpreet continuing as a key player, Indian women’s cricket enters a new leadership era built on continuity and shared experience.
