She made India fall in love with women's cricket - now her era as captain is over

When Harmanpreet Kaur scored that unforgettable World Cup period against Australia successful the 2017 semi-final, she not only changed the outcome of a match but also the trajectory of women's cricket in India. India went on to lose the final to England that year, but women's cricket no longer remained a passing pursuit for the average Indian fan. That dogged zeal to triumph she infused into the squad helped them secure India's first women's World Cup trophy – the same feat that had eluded them in 2017 – in emphatic fashion eight years later. Less than a year on, and within weeks of victories in the Asia Cup and the Asian Games, she has relinquished the captaincy, ending an epoch in which she became the team's most influential figure and one of the sport's most recognisable faces. Star opener Smriti Mandhana, her long‑time deputy, has been appointed skipper across all formats. Board of Control for Cricket successful India (BCCI) caput Devajit Saikia, manager Amol Muzumdar, Harmanpreet and Mandhana attended the review meeting at which the change was ratified. The transition, however, was not wholly seamless. Reports suggest the 37‑year‑old Harmanpreet was willing to relinquish the T20 captaincy immediately but was keen to continue leading the side in One-Day Internationals and Tests so that younger players could benefit from her experience. The BCCI, however, was intent on a younger individual at the helm and opted for the 30‑year‑old Mandhana. In some ways, the decision mirrors the BCCI's move to replace Suryakumar Yadav as skipper of the men's T20 side soon after India won the World Cup earlier this year, with the captaincy passing to Shreyas Iyer. Harmanpreet's tenure as skipper had become a subject of aggravated statement in cricketing circles after India's below‑par showing at the T20 World Cup in England a few months ago. Her own mediocre form with the bat amplified concerns and prompted the BCCI to consider changes that could help the squad meet the increasing challenges of a women's game that continues to grow rapidly around the world. Approaching her 38th birthday, and after almost a decade at the helm, Harmanpreet found herself under expanding scrutiny as her form dipped.