Historic Triumph: Indian Women's Cricket Team Wins First ICC World Cup Title
A Remarkable Comeback in Women's Cricket
In a stunning turn of events, the Indian Women's cricket team made history in 2025 by securing their first ICC Women's World Cup title, showcasing one of the most extraordinary comebacks in the sport's history.
Initially, the tournament was challenging for the team, as they faced three consecutive losses against South Africa, Australia, and England, putting their chances of advancing in jeopardy.
However, the tide turned when they defeated New Zealand by 53 runs, reigniting their hopes of continuing in the competition.
Record-Breaking Performances
In the semi-finals, India achieved a remarkable feat by chasing down a record 339 runs against Australia, marking the highest run chase in World Cup knockout history for both men's and women's tournaments.
Throughout 2025, the Indian team played 23 ODIs, winning 15 and losing seven, with one match resulting in no result, culminating in an impressive win percentage of 65.22.
Smriti Mandhana emerged as a standout player, scoring 1362 runs in 23 ODIs at an average of 61.90 and a strike rate of 109.92, including five centuries and five half-centuries.
Mandhana's Historic Year
Mandhana not only became the highest run-scorer in ODIs for the year but also set a new record for the fastest ODI century by an Indian, reaching the milestone in just 50 balls against Australia.
Her World Cup performance was equally impressive, amassing 434 runs in nine matches, which included a century and two fifties, placing her second on the tournament's highest run-scorer list.
She consistently delivered against formidable opponents, scoring 80 against Australia, 88 against England, and 109 against New Zealand, while contributing 45 runs in the final.
Deepti Sharma's Redemption
Deepti Sharma's journey in the tournament was particularly poignant. After facing disappointments in previous World Cups, she was named Player of the Tournament in 2025, showcasing her all-round capabilities with 215 runs and 22 wickets.
Her performance included a five-wicket haul and a crucial half-century in the final, making her the first cricketer to achieve over 200 runs and 20 wickets in any World Cup.
In the final, she played a pivotal role, scoring 58 runs and taking 5 wickets for 39 runs, solidifying India's dominance.
Shafali Verma's Impact
Shafali Verma's return to form added another layer to India's success. After being dropped from the ODI squad, she made a significant impact in the final, scoring 87 runs and taking 2 wickets, earning the Player of the Match award.
The victory was a significant achievement for head coach Amol Muzumdar and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who finally fulfilled the long-awaited dream of lifting the World Cup trophy after previous near-misses in 2005 and 2017.
A Year to Remember
India's dominance throughout the year was reflected in individual performances, with Mandhana leading the run charts, followed by Pratika Rawal, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, and Harmanpreet Kaur.
On the bowling front, Deepti Sharma topped the charts with 39 wickets, supported by Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, and Amanjot Kaur.
The year 2025 will be etched in history as the season when Indian women's cricket achieved its ultimate triumph, transforming despair into glory and making a powerful statement to the cricketing world.