Photo via Hindustan Times

Harmanpreet Kaur's captaincy legacy: Building India's belief before delivering World Cup glory

Harmanpreet Kaur’s decade-long tenure as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team has cemented her legacy as the architect of the side’s rise to global dominance. Taking over as T20I captain in 2016—one of the first Indian players to master the format—she later led in ODIs (2022) and all formats (2023), guiding India through 5 Tests, 51 ODIs, and 155 T20Is.

Her leadership transformed the team from a competitive underdog into a powerhouse, culminating in a historic 2025 ODI World Cup victory at home, ending a long trophy drought. Under her watch, India achieved milestones like their first bilateral WODI series win over England since 1999 (2022) and a Test triumph over Australia (2023), while also securing gold at the 2024 Asian Games.

Kaur’s resilience was tested by critics who urged her to step aside for younger players like Smriti Mandhana, but she stepped down on her own terms after delivering the team’s maiden World Cup title. Beyond results, her captaincy fostered an aggressive, self-believing unit that thrived both domestically and abroad, including a record WT20I series win over England in 2025.

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