In 2025, women’s cricket reached new heights with India’s historic maiden ICC senior title win at the ODI World Cup, breakthroughs in batting records, and dominance in T20Is by emerging stars. Smriti Mandhana and Laura Wolvaardt shattered ODI run milestones, Deepti Sharma claimed Player of the Tournament honours, while Thipatcha Putthawong and Esha Oza ruled T20Is with wickets and runs. These top five performers, Smriti Mandhana (India), Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa), Deepti Sharma (India), Thipatcha Putthawong (Thailand), and Esha Oza (UAE), defined a landmark year blending firepower, finesse, and global growth.
1. Smriti Mandhana: India’s Record-Breaking Opener
Smriti Mandhana, the 29-year-old left-handed opener, delivered a breakthrough year, especially in ODIs, becoming the first women’s player to surpass 1,000 runs (1,362) at a strike rate of 109.92 and average of 61.90 across 23 innings, with 5 half-centuries and 5 centuries, tying the record for most ODI tons in a year alongside Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits.
In the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, hosted by India and partly Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2, she shone as India’s leading run-scorer and the tournament’s second-highest with 434 runs at 99.08 strike rate and 54.25 average in 9 innings, including two half-centuries and a century.
Mandhana’s T20I form added flair: 341 runs at 135.85 strike rate and 37.88 average in 9 innings with two half-centuries and a century. In India’s 5-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka (December 21-30), she scored 120 runs at 133.33 strike rate and 30 average in four innings, including a half-century; her 25 off 25 in the opener made her the second after Suzie Bates to reach 4,000 T20I runs, and she hit 10,000 international runs in the fourth match, becoming the fastest and only the 2nd Indian after Mithali Raj. Overall, she is 4th on the list to enter the 10,000 International runs club after Charlotte Edwards, Mithali Raj, and Suzie Bates.
2. Laura Wolvaardt: South Africa’s World Cup Warrior
South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt captained her side to the ODI World Cup final, topping the charts with 571 runs at 98.78 strike rate and 71.37 average in 9 innings, featuring three half-centuries and two centuries. Her 169 (143 balls, 20 fours, 4 sixes) in the semi-final against England, in Guwahati, powered 319/7, the second-highest World Cup knockout total, earning Player of the Match in a 125-run win, South Africa’s first final appearance. In the DY Patil final, her 101 (98 balls, 11 fours, 1 six) chased 299 but fell 52 runs short, against the Harmanpreet Kaur-led eventual champions India.
Overall, she amassed 1,174 ODI runs at a 92.29 strike rate and 61.78 average in 21 innings with four half-centuries and five centuries, second only to Mandhana. In T20Is, 190 runs at 158.33 strike rate and 47.5 average in five innings included a century; her best was 115* (56 balls, 15 fours, 4 sixes) at No. 3 against Ireland on December 5 at Newlands, posting 220/2 for a 105-run win and Player of the Match honours.
3. Deepti Sharma: All-Round Hero and Record Breaker
India’s 28-year-old all-rounder Deepti Sharma dominated the ODI World Cup as the leading wicket-taker with 22 scalps at 20.40 average and 5.52 economy in 9 innings, including a four- and five-wicket haul. Her final spell (9.3-0-39-5) at DY Patil crushed South Africa, paired with a half-century (58 off 58), earning Player of the Tournament. She added 215 runs at a 90.33 strike rate and 30.71 average in seven innings with three half-centuries.
Across ODIs, Deepti took 39 wickets at 27.1 average and 5.12 economy in 23 innings with a four- and five-wicket haul, plus 596 runs at 98.18 strike rate and 49.66 average in 17 innings with six half-centuries. In T20Is, she grabbed 14 wickets at 17.57 average and 7.02 economy in 9 innings, overtaking Megan Schutt for most T20I wickets (152 at 19 average, 6.12 economy in 130 innings) with 1/28 in the fifth T20I against Sri Lanka on December 30. Batting contributed 21 runs at a 110.52 strike rate in three innings.
4. Thipatcha Putthawong: Thailand’s T20I Wrecker
Thailand’s Thipatcha Putthawong terrorised T20I batters, topping global wickets with 56 at 6.28 average and 3.57 economy in 27 innings, including three four-wicket hauls and a five-wicket haul. Her standout spell, 5/6 (3.3-1-6-5), against Uganda on November 26 in Bangkok sealed an 8-wicket win and Player of the Match accolades for her.
She chipped in 38 runs in four T20I innings. In ODIs, 8 wickets at 26.62 average and 5.19 economy in five innings across five matches, plus 46 runs in five innings, underscored her rising all-round threat.
5. Esha Oza: UAE Skipper’s T20I Rampage
UAE captain Esha Oza led T20I run-scoring with 779 runs at 146.42 strike rate and 41 average in 22 innings, boasting three half-centuries and two centuries. Her pinnacle: 113 (55 balls, 14 fours, 5 sixes) opening with Theertha Satish against Qatar on May 10 in Bangkok, posting 192 for a 163-run rout and Player of the Match for all-round impact.
With the ball, she has picked up 23 wickets overall at 12.78 average, 5.12 economy in 20 innings across 22 matches. In ODIs, she scored 148 runs at a 71.15 strike rate and 18.50 average in 8 innings with a half-century, plus 14 wickets at 15.14 average and 3.26 economy in seven innings over 8 matches.
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.