The countdown has begun for the ICC Women’s Cricket 2025 World Cup, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2. For India, this edition holds a special significance.
Twice finalists in 2005 and 2017, the team has consistently flirted with glory, only to fall short at the last step. Now, with a 15-member squad announced early on August 19, 2025, the message from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is clear: preparations are in full swing to finally “break the final barrier.” Led by the experienced Harmanpreet Kaur, with Smriti Mandhana as vice-captain, India enters the tournament buoyed by a strong year of performances across formats. The balance of seasoned campaigners and exciting young talent provides the squad a depth rarely seen in the past.
More importantly, recent ODI dominance suggests India is arriving at just the right time. From August 2024 to August 2025, India’s women scripted a story of consistency, particularly in ODIs. The team achieved a string of commanding results:
- Clean sweeps against West Indies, Ireland, South Africa, and New Zealand.
- A Tri-Nation Series win in Sri Lanka (April–May 2025), where India defeated the hosts in the final.
- A hard-fought 2-1 ODI series victory against England in July 2025, underlining their ability to beat strong opposition away from home.
This ODI form contrasts with a more mixed record in T20Is. While India reached the Asia Cup T20 2024 final (losing to Sri Lanka) and exited the T20 World Cup 2024 in the group stage, recent series wins against West Indies (2-1) and England (3-2) suggest steady progress in the shortest format. Still, the consistency and cohesion in ODIs remain India’s greatest strength — a reassuring sign with the World Cup looming.
Key Players Leading the Charge
Harmanpreet Kaur: The Experienced Core
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s heartbeat for more than a decade, continues to inspire with both bat and leadership. Across ODIs in the past year, she delivered centuries against South Africa and England, alongside crucial knocks in the Tri-Series. Her aggressive half-centuries in T20Is — including a 52 (27) vs Sri Lanka at the T20 World Cup reaffirm her big-match pedigree. With 333 international games equalling Mithali Raj’s record, her experience is invaluable.
Smriti Mandhana: The Run Machine
Mandhana’s form has been nothing short of spectacular. She amassed over 680 ODI runs in just 11 matches, including four centuries, with her 136 vs South Africa and 116 in the Tri-Series final against Sri Lanka being standout innings. Her T20 form also sparkled, highlighted by a 112 off 62 balls against England. As India’s vice-captain, Mandhana’s role in setting up strong starts will be crucial.
Pratika Rawal and Kranti Goud : The New Stars
The rise of Pratika Rawal has been one of the stories of the year. Debuting against West Indies in December 2024, she smashed a maiden century against Ireland just a month later, becoming the fastest Indian to 500 ODI runs (8 innings). Her aggressive stroke play adds fresh dynamism to the top order.
On the bowling side, Kranti Goud’s six-wicket haul against England in July 2025 signaled the arrival of a new pace force. For years, India has relied on spin; now, the addition of young quicks complements experienced seamers like Renuka Thakur, who herself claimed 18 ODI wickets this year.
Bowling Depth: From Spin Stronghold to Balanced Attack
India’s strength in spin is well-established, with Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, and Radha Yadav forming a formidable trio. Deepti’s 6/31 vs West Indies and Rana’s Player of the Series performance in Sri Lanka underline their value. Emerging spinner Sree Charani has also impressed, particularly with her 4/12 on T20I debut vs England.
But what stands out in 2025 is the growth of pace options. Renuka Thakur’s breakthroughs with the new ball, Kranti Goud’s impactful debut series, and Arundhati Reddy’s reliability in T20Is mean India can now rotate between spin-led and pace-heavy combinations depending on conditions. This versatility could be decisive in a long tournament.
Strengths and Concerns for Team India at 2025 World Cup
Strengths:
- ODI dominance and batting depth, with both established stars and new performers.
- A potent mix of spinners and an improving pace attack.
- Multiple genuine all-rounders (Deepti, Rana, Amanjot Kaur) offering balance.
- Strong home record the World Cup in India provides familiar conditions and crowd support.
Concerns:
- T20 inconsistency suggests adaptability under pressure can still improve.
- The challenge of performing in knockout finals, given India’s history of falling short (2005, 2017, Asia Cup 2024).
- Injuries remain a watchpoint, with players like Yastika Bhatia recently sidelined.
Before the World Cup, India faces Australia in a home series in September 2025. This clash against the defending champions will serve as the ultimate dress rehearsal. How India’s batters handle Australia’s pace and how their bowlers counter Australia’s batting depth will be crucial indicators of readiness.
India’s women enter the 2025 World Cup in rare form, with a mix of experience, youth, and balance across departments. With Mandhana at her peak, Harmanpreet’s leadership, emerging talents like Rawal and Goud, and the advantage of home conditions, this could be India’s best chance yet to claim a maiden World Cup title. The narrative is clear: after years of near-misses, this squad carries both the skill and belief to finally cross the line.
Come November 2, Indian cricket could well be celebrating a long-awaited chapter in its history.
