In the wake of India’s historic triumph at the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, crowning them champions for the first time at the senior level with a 52-run victory over South Africa in the final at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, the spotlight shifts to the unsung hero behind their success: the National Cricket Academy’s Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bangalore.
This state-of-the-art facility has earned rave reviews from players and coaches, who credit its world-class infrastructure for enabling the rigorous preparation that turned dreams into reality. From specialised pitches mimicking global conditions to cutting-edge gym and fielding setups, the COE provided the perfect launchpad for skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s side, Player of the Tournament Deepti Sharma, and rising stars like Shafali Verma, Amanjot Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues.
India’s maiden ICC senior title, sealed on November 2, 2025, after a tournament co-hosted with Sri Lanka from September 30, wasn’t just about on-field brilliance. It stemmed from meticulous processes honed at the COE. Head coach Amol Muzumdar emphasised its pivotal role, stating, “We often talk about process, isn’t it? I mean, this is where it all starts and ends. You know, today’s Indian cricketers and the Indian fraternity are blessed to have a facility like this. Centre of Excellence here in Bengaluru. We’ve had some superb camps over here. That’s the process that we follow. And the results, you have seen it.”
Jemimah Rodrigues, who smashed a maiden ODI World Cup ton of 127* (134 balls) to chase down Australia’s 339 and secure Player of the Match honours, hailed the COE as unparalleled. “Talking about COE, I think this is the world’s best facility that we have right here in India,” she said. “We have three big grounds and proper international grounds and pitches. Red soil, black soil, and I think there are 75 pitches. So, you can choose which country you want to go to, what conditions you want, and how you want to prepare. So, preparation-wise, we have everything sorted.”
Deepti Sharma, who dominated with 215 runs (including three half-centuries) at a strike rate of 90.33 and 22 wickets (leading the tournament) at an average of 20.40, including a five-wicket haul of 5/39 in the final, praised the gym facilities. “And the gym facilities are also very good because there are different machines to do different exercises. And it’s very good that whenever we get a chance to train here, I utilise it the most as a player,” she noted.
Shafali Verma, the last-minute wildcard replacement who fired 87 (78 balls) and 2/36 in the final to bag Player of the Match, echoed this: “Whenever we come to COE as a player, it helps us a lot because the facilities are so lovely and so good for us. Whatever we have to practice, we are always provided here.”
Fielding, a key focus area, transformed dramatically at the COE. Munish Bali, fielding coach, revealed the two-year push: “If we want to do something good in international cricket, especially in white-ball cricket, then we have to improve our fielding. So, two years ago, everyone had the same target that we want to be the number one fielding side in the world.” Intensive camps zeroed in on fitness and biomechanics, incorporating medicine ball drills to sync hips and hands, evident in their sharp performances leading into the World Cup.
As India eyes the future, with a five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka from December 21-30, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales (June 12-July 5, 2026), and WPL 2026 (January 9-February 5 across Navi Mumbai and Vadodara), the champions remain grounded. Post-World Cup, Muzumdar and staff realigned the squad at the COE, with support staff noting, “When we started today, I told the girls one thing. I said, the picture is still pending.”
Shafali Verma captured the relentless drive: “With the T20 World Cup coming up. We’ve already started hard work and are preparing for it. And we’re not going to stop now. We’ve won our first World Cup, and now we have to now make it a habit and always try to bring the World Cup home.”
The COE isn’t just a facility; it’s the heartbeat of India’s rising dominance in women’s cricket, blending cutting-edge resources with unwavering commitment.
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