The Board of Control for Cricket in India appointed Smriti Mandhana as the full-time white-ball captain of the India Women’s cricket team on 6 October 2026. Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the captaincy across all formats on the same day after a review meeting in Guwahati on 5 October 2026.
White-Ball Captaincy in Cricket
White-ball cricket includes One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals, which use a limited number of overs and a white cricket ball. In international women’s cricket, captaincy decisions are made by the national board and the team management structure.
Smriti Mandhana’s Leadership Record
Smriti Mandhana has led India in 18 T20 Internationals and four One Day Internationals. She has been part of the Indian team since 2013 and has also captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Women’s Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s Captaincy Tenure
Harmanpreet Kaur will continue as an India player after stepping down from the captaincy. She led India to their maiden ODI World Cup title in 2025, which is a major milestone in India Women’s cricket history.
Important Facts for Exams
- The Board of Control for Cricket in India is the national governing body for cricket in India.
- One Day Internationals are limited to 50 overs per side, while Twenty20 Internationals are limited to 20 overs per side.
- The Women’s Premier League is India’s franchise-based women’s T20 cricket league.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru won Women’s Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026 under Smriti Mandhana’s leadership.
Upcoming Assignment
India’s first series under Smriti Mandhana’s full-time white-ball captaincy is scheduled against Zimbabwe from 16 October 2026. The appointment covers both ODIs and T20Is in the white-ball format.
