The BCCI named Mandhana after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down. She will be India’s full-time captain in white-ball cricket.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Smriti Mandhana captain of the women’s national team, following Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision to step down. The appointment was announced on October 6.
Kaur announced her decision on social media after a review meeting in Guwahati on October 5 with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, head coach Amol Muzumdar and Mandhana. The board cited Mandhana’s international experience and leadership record.
Mandhana has been part of India’s team since 2013. The BCCI said she has previously captained India in 18 T20 internationals and four one-day internationals. She will now be the team’s full-time captain in white-ball formats.
At franchise level, Mandhana led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Women’s Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026. The BCCI said the team is entering a new phase while building on recent progress.