New Delhi, October 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former India women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur has reflected on more than a decade of leadership, saying captaincy taught her to face criticism and success with equal responsibility while keeping the team’s progress at the centre.
Harmanpreet, who took over as India’s captain in 2012 and recently stepped down after leading the side at the Asian Games, said leadership required her to remain accountable through every phase of the team’s journey.
“Captaincy taught me to stand on the frontline and take responsibility, not just for the criticism, but also for the victories. It taught me that leadership is about standing with your team through every phase, learning from every experience and continuing to move forward,” she told IANS.
She acknowledged that criticism often came with the expectations surrounding the team, adding that falling short of the team’s own standards could be difficult to deal with.
Harmanpreet’s tenure as captain coincided with several significant milestones in the growth of Indian women’s cricket, including India’s ODI World Cup triumph. Looking back, she said the captaincy was never about personal stature but about using her experience and ideas to contribute to the development of the team and the sport.
“For over a decade, since the responsibility of captaincy first came to me in 2012, I have cherished the opportunity and made several plans towards the development of Indian women’s cricket. It was never about an individual position,” she said.
She added that team leadership sometimes required personal goals to take a back seat, although she always prioritised her batting.
“As a player, you have a certain freedom to make choices, but as a captain, there are times when you have to put aside your personal dilemmas and move forward because you have a team following you,” Harmanpreet said.
She now wants to approach her game with greater clarity, understand her role and enjoy her cricket while continuing to contribute as a player.
Harmanpreet also stressed the importance of developing leadership qualities across the squad rather than concentrating responsibility solely on the captain.
“I have always wanted to plant that seed of leadership in every player because it teaches you to be responsible, accountable, empathetic, giving and kind, while also making you sharper and more decisive,” she said.
With Smriti Mandhana taking over as captain, Harmanpreet said she was happy to see her long-time teammate lead the side. The two have shared more than a decade of international cricket and have experienced the evolution of Indian women’s cricket together.
“Now, as a player, I am looking forward to seeing someone else lead from the front and create an environment for the team. And I am very happy that it is Smriti, who has been alongside me for more than a decade,” she said.
Harmanpreet clarified that her decision to step down was not prompted by a particular setback or tournament. She described it as a personal assessment of the direction she wanted her career to take.
“Winning the World Cup was one big dream I wanted to live. And thankfully, it came in the early years of my journey as the ODI captain,” she said.
Reflecting on her leadership journey, Harmanpreet said she carries “immense satisfaction and gratitude” and has no regrets.
“It hasn’t been as easy as we sometimes make it sound, but it also hasn’t been as difficult as it may seem from the outside. I am simply grateful for the journey and for everything we have achieved together,” she said.
As she begins the next phase of her career, Harmanpreet said the lessons and experience gained through leadership will continue to shape her contribution to Indian cricket, even without the captain’s title.
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