Smriti Mandhana has been appointed the full-time captain of the Indian women’s cricket team for white-ball cricket. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the decision on October 6, 2026, confirming that Mandhana will lead India in both One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals. The appointment begins a new phase for the Indian women’s team after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the captaincy.

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Smriti Mandhana Takes Charge

Mandhana has been one of the leading players in Indian women’s cricket for more than a decade. She joined the Indian team in 2013 and has gained extensive international experience across formats.

Before receiving the full-time captaincy, Mandhana had already led India in 18 T20 Internationals and four ODIs. Her earlier experience as captain gave the selectors an opportunity to assess her leadership during international matches.

The BCCI said Mandhana has also shown her leadership qualities in domestic and franchise cricket. She recently led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Women’s Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026.

Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down

The leadership change follows Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision to step down from the captaincy across formats. The BCCI acknowledged her contribution and said her leadership had been an important part of the growth of Indian women’s cricket.

Harmanpreet will continue playing for India. In a statement released by the BCCI, she said she wanted to remain involved as a player and support the team, new leadership and younger players.

Her captaincy began in 2012 when she was asked to lead India in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup final after Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami were unavailable because of injuries. India defeated Pakistan by 18 runs in that match. She later became a long-term leader across international formats.

Mandhana’s Leadership Experience

The appointment of Smriti Mandhana is not her first experience of leading a major cricket team. Her work with Royal Challengers Bengaluru has given her experience of managing a franchise squad and handling high-pressure matches.

RCB won the Women’s Premier League in 2024 and again in 2026 under Mandhana’s captaincy. The BCCI highlighted these achievements while announcing her new international role.

Mandhana’s leadership will now extend to the national team in both major white-ball formats. She will be responsible for guiding India through ODI and T20I series, while also working with the coaching staff and senior players.

India Begins a New White-Ball Phase

The appointment comes at an important time for Indian women’s cricket. The team has recently been involved in major international competitions and has continued to develop a strong group of experienced and younger players.

The BCCI has already announced India’s squads for the upcoming Zimbabwe series, with Mandhana named captain in both the T20I and ODI squads. Harmanpreet Kaur remains part of both squads, meaning the former captain will continue to contribute as a player under the new leadership.

Deepti Sharma has been named vice-captain for the ODI squad, while Shafali Verma is the vice-captain for the T20I side. This gives India a leadership group with experience across different formats.

Zimbabwe Series Will Be Mandhana’s First Assignment

The first major assignment under Smriti Mandhana‘s full-time white-ball captaincy will be India’s home series against Zimbabwe.

The T20I series will begin on October 16 in Raipur. The second T20I is scheduled for October 18, followed by the third match on October 20.

The teams will then move to Vadodara for a three-match ODI series. The ODIs are scheduled for October 23, October 25 and October 28.

The series will give Mandhana her first opportunity to lead India through a complete white-ball assignment after being given the full-time role.

BCCI Backs Mandhana

BCCI President Mithun Manhas said Mandhana has consistently shown the qualities required to lead the team. The board also pointed to her experience and understanding of the game as important strengths for the new role.

BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia also praised Mandhana’s growth as an international player and said her experience would be valuable as she takes responsibility for the national team.

Mandhana said leading India was a special responsibility and thanked the BCCI, selectors, teammates and supporters for their trust. She also recognised Harmanpreet Kaur’s contribution to the team during her years as captain.

What Changes for India’s Senior Players

The change does not mean that Harmanpreet Kaur is leaving international cricket. She remains part of India’s current white-ball squads and will continue playing alongside Mandhana.

This could give the new captain an experienced senior player to work with during the transition. Deepti Sharma’s appointment as ODI vice-captain also adds another experienced voice to the leadership group.

India’s current squads contain a mix of established players and younger cricketers, including Richa Ghosh, Shafali Verma, Sree Charani, Nandni Sharma and others. The coming series will provide the new leadership team with an opportunity to build combinations ahead of future international competitions.

A New Chapter for Indian Women’s Cricket

The appointment of Smriti Mandhana marks one of the biggest leadership changes in Indian women’s cricket in recent years. Mandhana has already spent more than 13 years in the international setup and has experience leading both India and RCB.

Her immediate focus will be the Zimbabwe series, but the role also places her at the centre of India’s longer-term white-ball plans. With Harmanpreet continuing as a player and several experienced cricketers remaining in the squad, India will now enter a new leadership phase while retaining much of its existing core.

The first results under Mandhana’s full-time captaincy will begin to take shape when India faces Zimbabwe in the three-match T20I series in Raipur from October 16.