The year 2025 will be etched in golden letters in the annals of Indian sports history. The Indian women's cricket team, against all odds, secured their maiden ICC Women's World Cup title, completing one of the most dramatic turnarounds the sport has ever seen. From the brink of elimination to lifting the coveted trophy, their journey became a masterclass in resilience and self-belief.
From Despair to Dominance: The World Cup Rollercoaster
India's campaign at the 2025 World Cup was anything but smooth. After a shaky start, the team suffered three consecutive defeats in the middle stages against South Africa, Australia, and England. This losing streak left Harmanpreet Kaur's squad staring at an early exit, with their momentum completely shattered. A miraculous revival was the only path forward.
The turning point arrived in a must-win clash against New Zealand, which India won convincingly by 53 runs. This victory set the stage for an epic semi-final against the mighty Australians. In a match for the ages, India chased down a mammoth target of 339 runs, recording the highest successful run chase against Australia in any men's or women's World Cup knockout game. This win not only dethroned the defending champions but also loudly announced India's arrival as a force to be reckoned with.
The final was a culmination of their grit. Facing South Africa, India delivered a clinical performance to win by 52 runs, finally laying to rest the ghosts of the heartbreaking finals in 2005 and 2017. This crowning moment was especially sweet for captain Harmanpreet Kaur and head coach Amol Muzumdar, a domestic legend who never played for India.
Record-Breaking Heroes: Mandhana and Sharma's Historic Year
At the forefront of this historic achievement was the phenomenal Smriti Mandhana, who enjoyed arguably the greatest calendar year by any Indian batter. In 23 One Day Internationals in 2025, she amassed 1362 runs at an astonishing average of 61.90 and a strike rate of 109.92. Her year included five centuries and five half-centuries, making her the highest run-scorer in ODIs globally for 2025.
Mandhana rewrote the record books by smashing the fastest ODI century by an Indian, reaching the milestone in just 50 balls against Australia, breaking Virat Kohli's previous record of 52 balls. During the World Cup, she was equally pivotal, scoring 434 runs in nine matches. She also crossed the landmark of 5000 runs in women's ODIs, becoming only the fifth player to do so, and equalled Meg Lanning's record of 17 international centuries.
If Mandhana was the batting architect, Deepti Sharma was the tournament's defining all-round force, scripting a perfect redemption story. Having endured the heartbreak of the 2017 final and a costly no-ball in 2022, Sharma was named the Player of the Tournament in 2025. She produced an extraordinary double, scoring 215 runs and taking 22 wickets, becoming the first cricketer (male or female) to achieve the double of 200+ runs and 20+ wickets in a single World Cup.
In the final, her performance was legendary. She stabilized the innings with a composed 58 runs and then decimated the South African batting lineup with a brilliant spell of 5 wickets for 39 runs in 9.3 overs.
A Collective Triumph and a New Dawn
The victory was built on stellar contributions from the entire squad. Shafali Verma, returning to the ODI side, was named Player of the Match in the final for her explosive 87 off 78 balls and two crucial wickets. The team's dominance throughout 2025 was reflected in their overall record: 15 wins in 23 ODIs, with a win percentage of 65.22.
The batting charts were led by Mandhana, followed by Pratika Rawal (976 runs), Jemimah Rodrigues (771 runs), Harleen Deol (613 runs), and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (606 runs). With the ball, Deepti Sharma's 39 wickets led the pack, supported by Sneh Rana (28 wickets), Kranti Gaud (23), Shree Char (23), and Amanjot Kaur (13).
This World Cup triumph was more than just a trophy; it was a powerful statement. It marked the moment Indian women's cricket crossed its final frontier, transforming past scars into present glory and inspiring a nation. The year 2025 will forever be remembered as the season belief was redefined and history was written.
