Photo via The Hindu

Harmanpreet — A leader who took India to uncharted terrains

Harmanpreet Kaur’s tenure as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team has drawn to a close, marking the end of an era defined by historic victories and leadership under pressure. She guided India to its first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup title in 2025, a triumph that cemented her place alongside legends like Kapil Dev and M.S.

Dhoni as one of the few captains to win a major ICC trophy. Her pivotal role in the final against Australia was underscored by an 89-run partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues, which anchored India’s chase of a world-record total after early wickets.

Though she fell short of leading India to the semifinals of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup—culminating in a high-stakes loss to Australia at Lord’s—her impact extended beyond tournaments, including a dominant Test win over England at the same venue shortly after the World Cup, as well as back-to-back successes at the Asia Cup and the Asian Games.

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End of an Era: Harmanpreet Kaur’s story, and of Indian women's cricket