The stage is set for a defining chapter in Indian women’s cricket. The ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 carries unparalleled significance for the Women in Blue, not just because of the prestige of the trophy, but because this time the tournament is unfolding in their own backyard. For a team that has twice come close — in 2005 and memorably at Lord’s in 2017 — the prospect of finally ending the wait for a world title looms larger than ever.
India approaches the competition in dazzling touch, having claimed 10 wins from 14 fixtures this year. Smriti Mandhana has been the heartbeat of their batting unit with 928 runs, while Pratika Rawal has carved her place as a dependable partner with 668. All-round balance has come from Deepti Sharma, whose 381 runs and 17 wickets anchor both innings, while Sneh Rana’s 21 wickets underline the depth of India’s attack.
Momentum began with a whitewash of Ireland, a 3-0 triumph remembered for a towering 435/5 — the fourth-highest team score in women’s ODI history. That contest saw Rawal’s majestic 154 off 129 and Mandhana’s whirlwind 135 from 80 power a 304-run victory, one of India’s most emphatic results ever.
From there, they traveled to Sri Lanka for a tri-series also involving South Africa, lifting the trophy on the back of collective brilliance: Mandhana amassed 264 runs, Jemimah Rodrigues chipped in with 245, while Rana dominated with 15 wickets. The winning rhythm carried into England, where India secured rare back-to-back series success. Harmanpreet Kaur’s decisive 102 and Kranti Goud’s 6/52 were the highlights of the tense third ODI that sealed the triumph.
As their World Cup build-up neared completion, India tested themselves against reigning giants Australia in September. The first ODI in Chennai saw Rawal (64), Mandhana (58) and Harleen Deol (54) lay a platform for 281, but the total was overhauled comfortably. They hit back hard in the second contest: Mandhana’s sparkling 117 from 91 powered India to 293, and disciplined bowling — Goud’s 3/28 alongside Sharma’s 2/24 — handed Australia their heaviest-ever defeat, a 102-run loss.
The third encounter turned into a high-scoring epic. Australia piled up 412, equalling their joint-highest tally, and India responded with spirit. Mandhana’s 125 off 63, Harmanpreet’s 72 from 35 and Sharma’s 72 off 58 cut the deficit to just 43 runs, leaving the contest remembered as much for India’s fearless chase as for the result itself.
Since the last World Cup in 2022, India have collected 25 wins from 38 matches, with ten defeats spread across five teams — a record that places them among the most consistent outfits in world cricket. Yet, this campaign carries symbolic weight. For the first time in two decades, India enters the global stage without the presence of icons Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, who carried the side to previous finals. Their legacy now rests in the hands of a younger generation eager to script their own.
With preparations fine-tuned, India will sharpen their edge with warm-up games against England (September 25) and New Zealand (September 27).
India’s schedule at Women’s World Cup 2025:
September 30, 2025: vs Sri Lanka – Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
October 5, 2025: vs Pakistan – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
October 9, 2025: vs South Africa – ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
October 12, 2025: vs Australia – ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
October 19, 2025: vs England – Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
October 23, 2025: vs New Zealand – Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
October 26, 2025: vs Bangladesh – Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
*All games have a start time of 3:00 PM IST
India’s squad for Women’s World Cup 2025:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud
Reserves: Tejal Hasabnis, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Minnu Mani, Sayali Satghare
Loves all things female cricket