Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 6: Senior opener Smriti Mandhana was on Tuesday appointed captain of the Indian women's cricket team after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the role.

Harmanpreet announced her decision to relinquish the captaincy in a social media post following a review meeting with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, women's team head coach Amol Muzumdar and Mandhana in Guwahati on Monday.

"The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announces the appointment of Smriti Mandhana as the captain of the Indian Women's Cricket Team," the BCCI said on its website.

The board described Mandhana as one of the leading figures in Indian women's cricket, saying she has played a key role in the team's progress across formats.

An experienced international cricketer, Mandhana has also demonstrated her leadership qualities in domestic and franchise cricket. Most recently, she led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Women's Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026.

"Having been part of the Indian team since 2013, Smriti brings considerable experience into the role. She will now take on the responsibility of leading the side, with the team entering a new phase and continuing to build on the progress made in recent years," the BCCI added.