Australia reaffirmed their status as the dominant force in women’s T20 cricket by winning the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, defeating hosts England by seven wickets in a one-sided final at Lord’s on Sunday.
The triumph not only handed Australia their seventh Women’s T20 World Cup title but also capped an unbeaten campaign in which they won all seven of their matches. Along with the coveted trophy, Australia walked away with the winner’s prize purse of ₹22.2 crore, while runners-up England received ₹11.1 crore after an impressive tournament in which they won their first six matches before falling at the final hurdle.
The biggest individual honours of the tournament also belonged to Australia, with opener Beth Mooney producing another masterclass on the biggest stage. Her match-winning 64(49) earned her the Player of the Match award, while her consistency throughout the tournament saw her named Player of the Tournament for the second time in her career, having previously claimed the honour in Australia’s victorious 2020 campaign. Mooney finished the competition with 238 runs in seven innings at an average of 47.60 and a strike rate of 142.51. Beyond her batting exploits, she also contributed behind the stumps with five dismissals, underlining her value as one of Australia’s most complete performers.
Although England could not end their long wait for a second Women’s T20 World Cup, opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge enjoyed a sensational tournament with the bat. She finished as the competition’s leading run-scorer, amassing 302 runs in seven innings at an average of 60.40 and a strike rate of 149.50, including a century against Sri Lanka several match-winning contributions that helped England reach their first T20 World Cup final since 2018.
South Africa’s Tazmin Brits produced the tournament’s standout individual innings, smashing 114 off 69 deliveries against the Netherlands in Bristol. Her spectacular knock featured 15 fours and 3 sixes, making it the highest individual score of the tournament.
India, despite suffering a disappointing group-stage exit, dominated the bowling honours. Left-arm spinner Shree Charani finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets in just five innings at a remarkable average of 8.36, emerging as one of the breakout performers of the World Cup.
Fellow Indian spinner Deepti Sharma registered the best bowling figures of the tournament, returning a sensational 5/10 from four overs against Pakistan in Birmingham, a spell that dismantled the opposition and stood unmatched throughout the competition.
India also featured prominently in the fielding charts, with Jemimah Rodrigues taking six catches in five innings, the most by any outfielder during the tournament. Behind the stumps, Pakistan wicketkeeper Muneeba Ali led with seven dismissals, comprising 4 catches and 3 stumpings.
The 10th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup was played across England over 24 days, featuring 10 teams and 33 matches, beginning at Edgbaston before culminating in the final at Lord’s. While Australia’s unbeaten march to another world title dominated the headlines, the tournament also showcased outstanding individual performances from players, highlighting the growing depth and competitiveness of women’s cricket on the global stage.
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