Smriti Mandhana appointed India captain with the Zimbabwe series her first assignment

Smriti Mandhana has been named captain of India's women's team, hours after Harmanpreet Kaur gave up the job, and will lead the side against Zimbabwe this month

The BCCI announced the appointment on Tuesday, describing Mandhana as the team's full-time white-ball captain. She has been part of the India side since 2013 and has led it in 18 T20Is and four ODIs while serving as Harmanpreet's deputy.

Harmanpreet, 37, had said earlier the same day that she was giving up the captaincy across all formats while carrying on as a player. No successor had been named at that point.

Mandhana inherits a side that won the 2025 Women's World Cup, India's first senior world title, and that took the Women's Asia Cup and the Asian Games in September. Her first assignment is Zimbabwe's tour of India, which opens with a T20I in Raipur on October 16.

What the board said about formats

"The Board of Control for Cricket in India announces the appointment of Smriti Mandhana as the captain of the Indian Women's Cricket Team," the release said, adding that she "brings considerable experience into the role" with the team "entering a new phase".

On formats it was specific: "While she will be the full-time white-ball captain from now on, Smriti has led India in 18 T20Is and 4 ODIs."

The ICC reported the appointment as covering all formats. The board's own statement referred only to the white-ball job.

What Mandhana said

"To be given the responsibility of leading India is a very special honour," Mandhana said in the board's statement. "Representing India has always meant a great deal to me, and to now have the opportunity to lead the team is something I will value deeply."

She acknowledged her predecessor directly. "I would also like to acknowledge Harmanpreet and the contribution she has made as captain over the years," she said.

"I understand the responsibility that comes with this role and look forward to working with the team," she added.

Manhas and Saikia back the choice

BCCI president Mithun Manhas said he congratulated Mandhana "on being entrusted with the responsibility of leading the Indian Women's Cricket Team", and that the board "has full confidence in Smriti and I am sure she will approach this role with the same commitment and professionalism that she has shown throughout her career".

Honorary secretary Devajit Saikia struck a similar note. "Leading India is a significant responsibility, but Smriti has the experience and temperament to take it on," he said.

The release pointed to her record in franchise cricket, where she has led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Women's Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026.

A record year with the bat

The appointment follows the most productive stretch of Mandhana's career. At the Women's Asia Cup in September she passed Mithali Raj's 10,868 runs to become the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket.

She reached the mark in her 303rd international innings, against Hong Kong in Dubai, making 124 from 64 balls before being run out in the final over. New Zealand's Suzie Bates is next on the all-time list.

It was also her 18th international century, one more than Meg Lanning managed and the most by any woman in the game.

Harmanpreet stays in both squads

Harmanpreet is in the T20I and ODI squads for Zimbabwe, playing under the captain who was her deputy at the Asian Games. Shafali Verma is vice-captain in the T20I side and Deepti Sharma in the ODI side.

The T20I squad is Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Niki Prasad, Harmanpreet Kaur, Anushka Sharma, Richa Ghosh, G Kamalini, Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Sree Charani, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Jintimani Kalita and Minnu Mani.

The ODI squad is Mandhana, Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet, Harleen Deol, Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, Vaishnavi Sharma, Nandni Sharma, Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare and Renuka Thakur.

The three T20Is are in Raipur on October 16, 18 and 20, and the three ODIs in Vadodara on October 23, 25 and 28.

Mandhana's first match in charge is the opening T20I against Zimbabwe in Raipur on October 16.

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