India women went through a crucial transition when Harmanpreet Kaur announced that she was stepping down as captain. Hours later, Smriti Mandhana has now been appointed as the full-time captain across white-ball formats following Kaur’s decision to step down. Along with this, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the squads for the upcoming three-match T20I and three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe on 6 October 2026, marking the start of a new era. In another transition in women’s cricket, Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma have been appointed as the vice-captains for the T20Is and ODIs, respectively.
Smriti Mandhana announced as new captain following Harmanpreet Kaur’s step down
Kaur, who had led the side for several years, confirmed her decision to step down from the captaincy earlier on the same day while affirming her continued availability as a player. She has been retained in both the T20I and ODI squads. Mandhana is well known as an experienced leader who previously captained India in limited opportunities and guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Women’s Premier League titles. Mandhana, who is also known for her consistent performances, takes charge for the first time as the permanent white-ball skipper.
Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma new vice-captains for T20I and ODI, respectively
With Harmanpreet leaving the captaincy and Mandhana taking over, there have been two new additions to the leadership. Shafali has been named vice-captain for the T20I series, while experienced all-rounder Deepti Sharma will serve as Mandhana’s deputy in the ODIs.
India Women announce T20, ODI squads for series vs Zimbabwe
India Women have announced the T20 and ODI squads for the series vs Zimbabwe. This series represents India and Zimbabwe’s first-ever bilateral international engagement. The three T20Is will be played in Raipur on 16, 18 and 20 October. All the matches will begin at 7:00 P, IST. The ODI leg shifts to Vadodara for matches on 23, 25 and 28 October, beginning at 2:00 PM IST.
The selections feature a mixture of established players and emerging talents. Niki Prasad earns a maiden call-up following her strong performances in India A matches, while players like Pratika Rawal, Vaishnavi Sharma and others continue to push for regular places. Jemimah Rodrigues is a notable absence, with reports indicating she is still recovering from injury. Wicket-keeping duties are shared across formats, with Richa Ghosh featuring in both sides. Meanwhile, ahead of the clashes, here is a look at the squads.
India’s T20Is squad:
Smriti Mandhana (c), Shafali Verma (vc), Niki Prasad, Harmanpreet Kaur, Anushka Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), G Kamalini (wk), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Sree Charani, Nandani Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Jintimani Kalita, Minnu Mani
India’s ODIs squad:
Smriti Mandhana (c), Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Harleen Deol, Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma (vc), Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Vaishnavi Sharma, Nandani Sharma, Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Renuka Thakur
Harmanpreet Kaur’s achievements and legacy
Harmanpreet stands as one of the most successful captains in Indian women’s cricket history, and her departure as a leader has left everyone stunned. Appointed full-time T20I skipper in 2016 and later taking charge of ODIs and Tests after Mithali Raj’s retirement, she led India in five Tests, where her side went on to win four. She also led 51 ODIs and a record 155 T20Is to become the first captain of any gender to reach 150 matches in the shortest format. Her crowning glory came in November 2025 when she guided India to their maiden ICC Women’s ODI World Cup title on home soil, defeating South Africa in the final.
Under her historic leadership, the women’s side also secured four Asia Cup titles, the first came in 2012 followed by the second one in 2016, 2022, and the most recent one in 2026, beating Sri Lanka. Her achievements also include back-to-back Asian Games gold medals in 2023 and 2026. She oversaw a Commonwealth Games silver in 2022, India’s first Test win over Australia in decades, and a historic victory at Lord’s against England.
Kaur amassed the most T20I wins by any women’s captain and left the side in a strong position after more than a decade of service. On 6 October 2026, she stepped down across all formats, confirming she will continue as a player and “play for the love of the game.” Her era transformed Indian women’s cricket from consistent contenders into world champions.
Smriti Mandhana is a well-known leader
Mandhana has been appointed India’s new white-ball captain following Harmanpreet’s resignation, and she was the frontrunner ever since the news came out. The stunning left-handed opener, long-time vice-captain, brings a calm, inclusive style focused on creating a positive culture. She has already captained India successfully in 18 T20Is and four ODIs, winning all four 50-over games. Mandhana has also guided the Women’s Premier League side Royal Challengers Bengaluru to two titles in 2024 and 2026. Her first assignment as a captain begins with the home white-ball series against Zimbabwe later this month as the fans await to see her leadership with the national side.
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