As the cricketing globe fixates on the 13th edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, to be staged in India and partly in Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2, 2025, one sentiment has reverberated louder than any strategic preview or squad announcement, fans are yearning for the return of cricket’s retired greats.
A Female Cricket engagement post that asked, “Which retired female cricketer would you want back for the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup?” sent ripples through social media, unleashing a flood of passion and nostalgia, dominated by calls for the comebacks of Mithali Raj, Meg Lanning, and Dane van Niekerk.
Cricket, perhaps more than any other sport, is steeped in a rich legacy of numbers, moments, and personalities that become woven into the fabric of national pride. When a poll listed Meg Lanning, Dane van Niekerk, Bismah Mahroof, Lizelle Lee, and Anya Shrubsole, alongside a mystery sixth option, fans responded with overwhelming support for the aforementioned trinity. The comment sections were ablaze with emotional appeals, tributes, and what-ifs, underlining the deep connection these players have forged with the cricketing community.
Meg Lanning: The Architect of Australian Supremacy
With 4,602 runs at a staggering average of 53.51 and a jaw-dropping strike rate of 92.20, Meg Lanning’s ODI resume sparkles. Her record 15 centuries, most by any woman in ODIs, stand testament to her elite status. Under her captaincy, Australia clinched five T20 World Cups and the 2022 ODI title, cementing Lanning’s legacy as arguably the finest leader of her generation.
Lanning’s fans argue that her composure under pressure and an uncanny ability to anchor and accelerate would be invaluable assets in a high-stakes tournament. Still just 33, her retirement in 2023 is widely seen as premature, especially given Australia’s evolving squad dynamics. A trump card remains: Lanning’s ability to inspire a winning culture, something that, her supporters believe, could tip the scales in another World Cup campaign for Australia.
Mithali Raj: Indian Cricket’s Guiding Light
No discussion of women’s cricket legends is complete without Mithali Raj. The architect of Indian batting, Raj racked up 7,805 ODI runs at 50.68, including 64 half-centuries and 7 centuries. Her poise, technique, and unparalleled ability to construct innings under pressure have seen India reach two World Cup finals (2005, 2017), under her leadership, moments that ignited the women’s cricket movement in India.
Raj’s followers, a legion both passionate and loyal, see her as the pillar around which a squad can be built, particularly in a home World Cup. Her retirement in 2022 left a palpable void in the Indian lineup, one her fans are desperate to see filled, if only for one final World Cup charge.
Dane Van Niekerk: South Africa’s Versatile Dynamo
If Lanning and Raj have been singularly dominant with the bat, Dane van Niekerk’s all-round prowess sets her apart. With 2,175 runs and 138 wickets in 107 ODIs, van Niekerk’s blend of aggression and tactical astuteness brought balance to South Africa’s lineup, often rescuing them from precarious positions. She announced her retirement in March 2023, but returned to professional cricket and is hopeful of wearing the Proteas colours once again.
Fans of the Proteas wax lyrical about van Niekerk’s fighting spirit and cricketing IQ. They believe her comeback could be the missing ingredient for South Africa to finally break their World Cup duck.
This groundswell of nostalgia isn’t just about numbers or records. For the women’s game, a sport still fighting for parity, icons like Raj, Lanning, and van Niekerk represent the promise of what women’s cricket can be when brilliance is matched by opportunity. Their stories have inspired millions, and their absence, while opening doors for fresh talent, leaves a longing that no debutant can instantly fill.
While the practicalities of an international comeback are daunting, fitness, form, team balance, and personal priorities, the drumbeat grows louder as the 2025 World Cup nears. Whether these legends return or not, one thing is certain: Mithali Raj, Meg Lanning, and Dane van Niekerk will remain woven into the game’s legacy, revered not just for what they achieved on the field but for the hope and inspiration they continue to spark off it.
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