{
  "id": 12327538,
  "title": "India's Harmanpreet steps down as captain",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/indias-harmanpreet-steps-down-as-captain",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-06T07:26:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/indias-harmanpreet-steps-down-captain-072659581.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indian batter Harmanpreet Kaur has announced her decision to step down as captain of the national team across all three formats of international cricket. The 37-year-old led India in five Tests, 51 one-day internationals, and 155 T20 internationals, guiding the team to their first World Cup title in the summer of 2020. Harmanpreet made her final appearance as captain on September 22, helping India secure a second consecutive Asian Games gold medal against Sri Lanka. In an Instagram post, she expressed her gratitude and stated that she is leaving the team in a good place, ready to play for the love of the game once again. She emphasized the sacrifices and memories associated with her tenure as captain and highlighted her commitment to the team and Indian women's cricket. Harmanpreet, who started her captaincy journey in 2012, guided India to a Test victory over England at Lord's in July, but the team failed to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup earlier in the month. The announcement came after a meeting with vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, head coach Amol Muzumdar, and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia in Guwahati. Mandhana is expected to take over as captain, with India scheduled to play three T20s and three ODIs against Zimbabwe starting October 16.",
  "summary": "India batter Harmanpreet Kaur leaves her role as national team captain across all three formats of international cricket.",
  "key_points": [
    "Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India's captain across all formats.",
    "Led team to first World Cup title in 2020.",
    "Grateful, ready to play for love of the game again."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Harmanpreet's decision to step down as captain hands over the reins to likely successor Smriti Mandhana, marking a change in leadership for India across all three formats of international cricket.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "'I have done my duty': Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India captain",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/i-have-done-my-duty-harmanpreet-kaur-steps-down-as-india-captain",
        "published": "2026-10-06T05:38:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Haramanpreet Kaur resigns as India captain: Read World Cup-winner’s full statement here",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/haramanpreet-kaur-resigns-as-india-captain-read-world-cup-winners",
        "published": "2026-10-06T07:36:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as captain of India’s women’s cricket team",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/harmanpreet-kaur-steps-down-as-captain-of-indias-womens-cricket-team",
        "published": "2026-10-06T07:49:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Kaur quits as India's women's cricket captain",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/kaur-quits-as-indias-womens-cricket-captain",
        "published": "2026-10-06T07:58:21.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}