In a year that etched India’s name in history with its maiden senior-level ICC title, head coach Amol Muzumdar steered the Indian women’s team through triumphs and trials, culminating in a dominant clean sweep against Sri Lanka.
Under his guidance, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s side not only lifted the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup but also showcased batting prowess led by Smriti Mandhana’s record-breaking exploits. As India eyes the 10th ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales from June 12 to July 5, 2026, Muzumdar’s strategic vision has positioned the team for sustained dominance.
Muzumdar’s tenure peaked with India’s unforgettable victory in the 13th ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, hosted across India and partly in Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2, 2025. In the final at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, India crushed South Africa by 52 runs, with Harmanpreet Kaur becoming the first Indian captain to lift an ICC senior title.
Smriti Mandhana starred as India’s leading run-scorer and the tournament’s second highest with 434 runs at a strike rate of 99.08 and an average of 54.25 across nine innings, including two half-centuries and a century. Her form extended to a breakthrough ODI year, amassing 1,362 runs, the first in women’s cricket to surpass 1,000, at a strike rate of 109.92 and average of 61.90 in 23 innings, featuring five half-centuries and five centuries.
Post-World Cup, Muzumdar’s team displayed unmatched hunger, achieving a historic 5-0 whitewash against Chamari Athapaththu’s Sri Lanka in a home T20I series from December 21-30, 2025, India’s first clean sweep in a five-match bilateral T20I at home and the third overall after West Indies (2019 away) and Bangladesh (2024 away). Wins came emphatically: eight wickets in the first, by 7 wickets in the 2nd game, eight wickets with 40 balls spare in the third, 30 runs in the fourth, and 15 runs in the fifth.
Mandhana, the 29-year-old opener, aggregated 120 runs at a strike rate of 133.33 (average 30) in four innings, including a half-century, ranking third for India and fourth overall. Her 25 off 25 in the opener made her the first Indian and second globally after Suzie Bates to exceed 4,000 T20I runs. In the fourth T20I, she became the fastest and second Indian after Mithali Raj to surpass 10,000 international runs. For 2025, T20Is, she scored 341 runs at 135.85 strike rate (average 37.88) in nine innings, with two half-centuries and a century.
Earlier, in England from June 28 to July 22, 2025, India edged Nat Sciver-Brunt’s hosts 3-2 in T20Is and 2-1 in ODIs, building crucial momentum. In a Star Sports interaction, Muzumdar reflected, “The England tour, winning both the series, gave us the confidence heading into the ODI World Cup. 2025 has given us good memories, some tough moments as well, but it has given us the World Cup, couldn’t ask for more.”
Muzumdar rated the Sri Lanka series “very highly,” noting, “I was keen to see how the team turns up after the World Cup win. We have turned up with the right spirit and are 5-0 up.” He lauded Mandhana as “a special player. Amazing consistency with that fluency. A terrific cricketer, a perfect role model. I was counting some of her hundreds in the last two years, and it is 11! A very special player, superb on the offside, mind-boggling.”
In the franchise circuit, the inaugural champions in 2023, Mumbai Indians under Harmanpreet Kaur reclaimed the WPL title in 2025 after RCB’s 2024 win under Mandhana, who will lead them again in the fourth edition from January 9 to February 5, 2026, starting against MI at DY Patil Stadium.
Looking ahead, Muzumdar outlined a clear path, “We have the Australia tour after the WPL. WPL will give us more insights into the composition of the team. After the Australia series, we also have an England tour. So, plenty of time to get our combination right.” India faces Australia in an all-format tour (February 15-March 6, 2026), then England for three T20Is (May 28-June 2, 2026) and a Lord’s Test (July 10-13, 2026).
Muzumdar’s emphasis on playing “every game and every opposition to its merit” over the last two years has transformed India into a force. With Mandhana’s blade sharp and Kaur’s leadership proven, 2026 promises more chapters in this golden era.
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