‘Ten years of your leadership have been fantastic’: Smriti Mandhana’s heartfelt message for Harmanpreet Kaur

Smriti Mandhana paid tribute to Harmanpreet Kaur after being appointed the new captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, describing her former skipper’s decade-long leadership as “fantastic”.Sharing a picture of Harmanpreet on her Instagram story, Mandhana wrote: “It's been a pleasure playing with you for so many years. Ten years of your leadership have been fantastic and together we will strive to bring many more laurels for our nation.”Mandhana was appointed as Harmanpreet’s successor on Tuesday after the 37-year-old decided to step down as India captain across formats.The 30-year-old Mandhana, who has been part of the Indian setup since 2013, has previously led the team in 18 T20Is and four ODIs. She will now take charge of the white-ball sides on a full-time basis.The left-handed opener has also enjoyed success as a captain in domestic and franchise cricket, most notably leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Women's Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026.Mandhana has been one of the leading figures in Indian women's cricket and has scored more than 10,000 runs across formats. Her elevation marks the beginning of a new leadership era for the team after Harmanpreet's tenure.Harmanpreet, who first led India in 2016, stepped down after captaining the team to a second consecutive Asian Games gold medal in Japan.Her decision followed a review meeting with the BCCI, bringing an end to a decade at the helm during which India won the 2025 ODI World Cup and retained the Asian Games gold.Mandhana's message underlined the continuity between the two eras, with the new captain acknowledging the contribution of her predecessor while looking ahead to the next chapter of Indian women's cricket.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.