Harmanpreet Kaur has etched her name into the record books, surpassing Mithali Raj to become the most successful India captain in Test history. On July 13, she led India to a commanding 270‑run victory over England in a one‑off Test at Lord’s, a result that not only gave her a fourth Test win as skipper but also marked the fourth‑largest victory margin in women’s Test cricket.
Until this triumph, Harmanpreet was tied with Mithali on three wins each. Mithali had captained India in eight Tests, recording three wins, one loss, and four draws. Harmanpreet, by contrast, has now overseen five Tests, winning four and losing just once.
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Her journey as a Test captain began in December 2023, when India crushed England by 347 runs at the DY Patil Stadium. Later that month, she guided the team to an eight‑wicket win over Australia at Wankhede. The momentum continued in June 2024, as India routed South Africa by 10 wickets in Chennai. The streak was halted in March when Australia handed India a heavy 10‑wicket defeat at the WACA in Perth.
But her fourth win will forever carry special significance. By conquering England at the ‘Home of Cricket,’ Harmanpreet not only scripted history but also ensured India became the first women’s team to win a Test at Lord’s. The victory preserved India’s remarkable record in England, where they remain unbeaten in Tests, 10 matches played, three wins, and seven draws, with no losses to date.
India women’s captains with most Test wins
| Captain | Matches | Wins | Losses | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H Kaur | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| M Raj | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| A Chopra | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| S Rangaswamy | 12 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| S Agarwal | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| KS Bhatt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| DF Edulji | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| N Jogalekar | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| C Kaul | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| S Kulkarni | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| M Maben | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| P Rau | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
