The Smriti Mandhana captaincy era has begun! Smriti Mandhana was appointed as the new captain of the Indian women’s cricket team on October 6, 2026. She takes over from Harmanpreet Kaur, who stepped down as India’s captain across all formats a day earlier. Smriti Mandhana was previously the team’s vice-captain and had already led India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs.
Smriti Mandhana Named India Women’s Captain After Harmanpreet Kaur
Smriti Mandhana has been part of the Indian team since 2013 and has become one of the team’s most experienced players. She has played 9 Tests, 120 ODIs and 179 T20Is for India. She also recently became the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket, moving past former India captain Mithali Raj.
Smriti Mandhana has also captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League. Under her leadership, RCB won the WPL titles in 2024 and 2026. Smriti Mandhana was part of India’s 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup-winning team. During that tournament, she scored 434 runs, the highest by an Indian batter in a single edition of the Women’s ODI World Cup. She also holds the record for the most international centuries in women’s cricket, with 18 centuries across formats.
When will Smriti Mandhana lead India next?
Her first assignment as India’s new captain will be the home series against Zimbabwe. India will play three T20Is in Raipur from October 16 to October 20, 2026, followed by three ODIs in Vadodara from October 23 to October 28. It will be India’s first bilateral international series against Zimbabwe.
India’s Zimbabwe series:
| Format | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 3 T20Is | October 16, 18 and 20 | Raipur |
| 3 ODIs | October 23, 25 and 28 | Vadodara |
Smriti Mandhana now takes charge of an Indian team entering a new leadership phase, following Harmanpreet Kaur’s long captaincy tenure.
FAQs About Smriti Mandhana
Who is India’s new women’s cricket captain?
Smriti Mandhana has been appointed as the new captain of India’s women’s cricket team.
When was Smriti Mandhana appointed captain?
Smriti Mandhana was appointed on October 06, 2026.
How many T20Is has Smriti Mandhana captained India in?
She had previously captained India in 18 T20Is, along with four ODIs.
Who did Smriti Mandhana replace as India captain?
She replaced Harmanpreet Kaur, who stepped down from India’s captaincy across all formats on October 06, 2026.
When will Smriti Mandhana’s captaincy begin?
Her first series as captain will be India’s T20I and ODI series against Zimbabwe starting October 16, 2026.
Has Smriti Mandhana won the Women’s Premier League as captain?
Yes. She led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to WPL titles in 2024 and 2026.
Also read:
- India’s New Record Holder: Smriti Mandhana Smashes Fastest ODI Hundred
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru Win Women’s Premier League 2026 Again!
- Full List of Records Set by India in the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup
- India Announces Squad for Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
- India Beats Australia To Reach ICC Women’s World Cup Finals
Also, learn about Smriti Mandhana’s life journey!
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