The Indian women’s cricket team have added another major accolade to a historic year after being nominated for the 2026 Laureus World Team of the Year award following their breathtaking maiden victory at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. The prestigious nomination places India’s World Cup-winning women’s side alongside some of the top teams in sport, with the winners to be announced on 20 April at the Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid, Spain. Members of the Laureus World Sports Academy will select the winners, spotlighting team excellence across global sport.
India’s triumph at the World Cup was one of the most compelling stories of the 2025 cricket season and a defining achievement in the history of women’s cricket. In the final at Navi Mumbai, India posted a commanding 298 for 7 in their 50 overs, setting a challenging target for a resilient South African side. The innings was powered by an aggressive yet controlled performance from Shafali Verma, who scored 87 off 78 balls, and a strong contribution from Deepti Sharma, who made 58 runs as India consistently rotated the strike and punished loose deliveries to keep the scoreboard ticking.
South Africa responded with determination and skill, the backbone of their chase being an exceptional century from captain Laura Wolvaardt, who scored 101 off 98 balls, becoming one of the standout performers of the tournament. Despite her efforts and contributions from other players, they were unable to overhaul India’s total, finishing 246 all out in 45.3 overs, leaving India victorious by 52 runs and crowned world champions for the first time.
One of the defining moments of the final was India’s bowling performance after setting their target. Led by Deepti Sharma and supported by disciplined efforts from the rest of the attack, South Africa’s chase began to falter at key moments, with disciplined lines and tight fielding forcing pressure and producing crucial breakthroughs at pivotal junctures.
The World Cup victory was the culmination of a challenging tournament for India. After suffering three group stage defeats, including a loss to South Africa earlier in the competition, India needed resilience and belief to turn their campaign around. Their path through the knockouts included a remarkable victory over defending champions Australia in the semi-finals, where India chased down a daunting target with grit and skill. That performance set the tone for the final, where they delivered a composed and mature performance in front of a packed DY Patil Stadium.
The Laureus World Team of the Year nomination recognises not just a single match or player but the entire cohesion and character of India’s World Cup squad. India will compete for the award against a diverse and high-profile field of nominees, England Women’s Football Team; European Ryder Cup Team (golf); McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team (UK, motor racing); Oklahoma City Thunder (USA, basketball; Paris Saint-Germain (France, football). This nomination places the Indian women’s cricket team among sporting giants from a wide range of disciplines and regions, reflecting the global impact of their achievement.
Winning the ICC Women’s World Cup has already transformed the profile of women’s cricket in India. The final itself attracted massive audiences and widespread praise from former players, fans and public figures alike, marking the occasion as a turning point for the sport in the country. With this Laureus nomination, the team’s success transcends cricket and enters the wider arena of international sport, celebrating a group effort recognised on a global stage.
Regardless of whether Harmanpreet and Co. take home the Laureus award on 20 April, the nomination itself is a testament to a year defined by resilience, excellence and history-making performances from a team that captured the imagination of fans around the world.
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