As Harmanpreet Kaur steps down, four names emerge in India women’s cricket captaincy race

New Delhi: Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision to step down as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all formats has opened the door to a new leadership era, with Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh emerging as the potential candidates to take over.

Harmanpreet announced her decision on Tuesday, saying she was stepping down as captain across Tests, ODIs and T20Is but would continue to make herself available as a player. Her departure brings an end to a leadership stint that began in 2022 and included India’s historic Women’s World Cup triumph last year.

Also Read: Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India women's cricket team captain after World Cup, Asian Games glory


The biggest name in the succession discussion is Smriti Mandhana, who has spent several years as Harmanpreet’s deputy and has already indicated that she is ready to take on the responsibility.

Mandhana, 30, is one of the most established batters in the Indian side and currently sits at No. 1 in the ICC ODI batting rankings. The left-handed opener has been one of the pillars of India's batting for more than a decade and has also built considerable leadership experience away from the national side.

She captains Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women's Premier League and led the franchise to its maiden title. RCB head coach Malolan Rangarajan has described her as a “calm leader” who is tactically astute.

Mandhana had also made her position clear earlier this year when asked about the possibility of succeeding Harmanpreet. “Yes, of course. I am ready,” she said in July.

Deepti Sharma: The all-round leader

If India want a captain who can influence a game with both bat and ball, Deepti Sharma presents a strong option.

The 29-year-old left-handed all-rounder has become one of India's most dependable players, combining middle-order batting with off-spin. The ICC describes her as a player who thrives in pressure situations, while her recent record has established her as one of the team's central figures.

Deepti already has captaincy experience in the WPL. She took over as UP Warriorz captain in 2025 when Alyssa Healy was ruled out and had previously served as the franchise's vice-captain.

Her leadership credentials are also backed by performances. In the 2024 WPL season, she scored 295 runs and took 10 wickets for Warriorz. She was subsequently named Player of the Tournament at the 2025 ODI World Cup, which India won on home soil.

Deepti would offer India a different kind of captaincy option. She is a senior player who is directly involved in multiple phases of the game and has already handled leadership at franchise level.

Jemimah Rodrigues: The next-generation option

At 26, Rodrigues is already an established international batter and was a key part of India's 2025 World Cup-winning campaign. Her unbeaten 127 against Australia in the semifinal was one of the defining innings of India's title run.

Also Read: India win first gold at Asian Games 2026 as women’s cricket team thrash Sri Lanka by 147 runs

She has also moved into leadership at franchise level. Delhi Capitals appointed Rodrigues as their captain for the 2026 WPL season, pointing to her energy, ability to build relationships within the team and growing leadership presence.

Her leadership opportunity with Delhi came after she had featured in all three WPL finals for the franchise. That experience, combined with her growing stature in the national team, puts her firmly in the longer-term captaincy conversation.

Rodrigues' case is particularly interesting because India could use Harmanpreet's departure to begin grooming a younger leadership group rather than simply replacing one senior captain with another.

Richa Ghosh: The potential wildcard

Then there is Richa Ghosh, potentially the most interesting long-term option.

At 23, the wicketkeeper-batter is still among the younger members of India's core group. She made her international debut at 16 and has developed into an aggressive middle-order batter capable of changing games quickly. The ICC describes her as a dynamic wicketkeeper-batter whose adaptability and ability to score rapidly have helped establish her as one of India's future stars.

Her leadership credentials are still developing, but they have already been noticed at franchise level. RCB's head coach, while discussing her retention ahead of the 2026 WPL, specifically identified Ghosh as someone with leadership potential.

That makes her more of a long-term candidate than an immediate replacement, but India's selectors could view the captaincy change as an opportunity to build a leadership pipeline around younger players.

Mandhana has the inside track, but the choice is bigger than one name

On paper, Mandhana has the clearest case. She has been Harmanpreet's deputy, captains a successful WPL side and has already publicly said she is ready for the job.

Deepti brings all-round value and captaincy experience. Rodrigues offers a younger leadership profile after taking charge of Delhi Capitals, while Ghosh represents the next generation and has already been identified as a potential leader.

The decision, therefore, will not simply be about replacing Harmanpreet. It will determine how India manage the transition from a captain who led the side through one of the most important periods in its history.

Harmanpreet's tenure ended with India having finally broken through to win the 50-over World Cup. The next captain will inherit a team that is no longer chasing its first major breakthrough, but one expected to remain among the contenders for the biggest prizes in women's cricket.