India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 final at Navi Mumbai on Sunday, to win its first ICC title.
It was an all-round show from the Women in Blue through the tournament, with each player contributing at crucial junctures through the tournament to realise a dream 52 years in the making.
Here’s a look at India’s squad which managed to create history by winning the Women’s World Cup 2025 on home soil:
Harmanpreet Kaur
Age: 36
Where from: Moga, Punjab
Stats: 260 runs in 8 innings (HS: 89; Avg: 32.50; SR: 89.04)
Background: A teenaged Harmanpreet began playing cricket with the boys in her locality, showing interest in the sport from an early age. In 2009, she made her ODI debut against Pakistan during a World Cup.
Playing in her first ODI World Cup as captain, Harmanpreet has rallied her troops well to reach this stage. With the bat, she first turned up against England during a crucial league stage fixture. While her run-a-ball 70 was in a losing cause, the Punjab batter stitched up a pivotal partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues in the semifinal against Australia, scoring an 88-ball 89. In the final, she took a punt on Shafali Verma and handed her the ball, which reaped a couple of wickets. Moreover, it was fitting that she took the catch which took India over the line to the World Cup trophy.
Smriti Mandhana
Age: 29
Where from: Sangli, Maharashtra
Stats: 434 runs in 9 innings (HS: 109; Avg: 54.25; SR: 99.08)
Background: Growing up, Smriti was heavily influenced by her brother Shravan who used to play for the Maharashtra Under-19 team. At the age of 16, Smriti made her international debut for India against Bangladesh.
Entering the tournament on the back of what has been a brilliant year with the bat, Smriti took a few games to warm up. It was against the Aussies in the league stage when she smacked her first half-century of this edition. After that, she has had scores of 88, 109, and 34*, and 24. She finished this edition as India’s top-scorer, with 434 runs, which broke Mithali Raj’s record of most runs by an Indian in a single edition (409 runs in 2017).
Pratika Rawal
Age: 25
Where from: New Delhi
Stats: 308 runs in 6 innings (HS: 122; Avg: 51.33; SR: 77.77)
Background: A graduate in psychology and a bright student who had passed her CBSE Class 12 exams with 92.5 per cent, Pratika started playing the game when she was in fourth standard. She made her ODI debut late last year against West Indies.
Pratika has been the steady rock at the top of India’s batting line-up. Not only has she partnered Smriti in crucial opening partnerships across the tournament, but the 25-year-old also marked her maiden World Cup edition with a century against New Zealand. While her tournament might have ended prematurely due to an injury, Pratika has had a brilliant first World Cup outing, having scored 308 runs in six innings. After India won the title, Pratika was there, albeit on a wheelchair, involved in the celebrations.
Harleen Deol
Age: 27
Where from: Chandigarh
Stats: 169 runs in 5 innings (HS: 48; Avg: 33.80; SR: 75.11)
Background: Growing up in Punjab and just like others, playing alongside boys, Harleen quickly started playing domestic cricket even before entering her teens. Later, she represented Himachal Pradesh and then made her India debut in 2019.
Harleen, who usually comes in at No. 3 for India, played the role of an anchor in the opening few games for India, notching up consistent scores in her 30s and 40s. Against New Zealand, the must-win match for the Women in Blue, she was dropped down the order before she was rested for the semifinal against Australia.
Rodrogue
Age: 25
Where from: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Stats: 292 runs in 7 innings (HS: 127; Avg: 58.40; SR: 101.03)
Background: A Bandra girl from Bhandup, she grew up practising her cover drive at the infamous Shivaji Park, trained by her father. She steadily rose up the ranks of domestic cricket, impressing in Mumbai’s U-19 team. She went on to debut for India in 2018.
After a horrific start to her maiden ODI World Cup campaign, the 25-year-old played the knock of her life against Australia in the semis, her unbeaten 127 taking India to the final. Even against the Kiwis when she was sent out at No. 3, Jemimah impressed by smacking her maiden World Cup half-century.
Richa Ghosh
Age: 22
Where from: Siliguri, West Bengal
Stats: 235 runs in 8 innings (HS: 94; Avg: 39.16; SR: 133.52)
Background: When she was barely five years old, Richa would go watch her father play club cricket. It’s there where her journey began as well. Slowly, she made a name for herself for the Bengal State team, and then made her international debut in 2020.
While her wicketkeeping hasn’t been the best this tournament, Richa has turned up with the bat when required. The best example of that would be her fiery 94 which came against South Africa in a league stage fixture. Even in the final against the Proteas, she played a 24-ball 34 in the death to help India get to a competitive total on a deteriorating pitch.
Uma Chetry
Age: 23
Where from: Bokakhat, Assam
The youngster from Assam was called up to the squad ahead of the tournament as an injury replacement for Yastika Bhatia. Against New Zealand, she got some game time in the middle after Richa had sustained an injury. Then, Uma was also handed her ODI debut in India’s final league stage fixture against Bangladesh.
Renuka Singh Thakur
Age: 29
Where from: Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Stats: 3 wickets in 6 innings (BBI: 2/25; Avg: 60.33; Econ: 4.02)
While India’s strike bowler didn’t play every game in this tournament, Renuka showed her experience in the important match against New Zealand where she picked up two wickets. While her effort in the field wasn’t the best in the final, she was economical with the ball, giving away just 28 runs in her eight overs.
Deepti Sharma
Age: 28
Where from: Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Stats: 215 runs in 7 innings (HS: 58; Avg: 30.71; SR: 90.33; 22 wickets in 9 innings (BBI: 5/39; Avg: 20:40; Econ: 5.52)
Background: It was during one of her regular visits to watch her brother play that her non-chalant direct hit at the stumps caught the eye of former India international and then-chairperson of women’s selection panel Hemlata Kala. That prompted Deepti to start training, and she eventually made her India debut in 2014.
Deepti has consistently shown why she’s India’s main all-rounder. And she stepped up in the final too! With a steady half-century and a crucial five-wicket haul, Deepti played a key hand in India’s triumph. She was also adjudged the Player of the Tournament (22 wickets and 215 runs).
Sneh Rana
Age: 31
Where from: Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Stats: 7 wickets in 6 innings (BBI: 2/32; Avg: 45.42; Econ: 5.67); 99 runs in 5 innings (HS: 33; Avg: 49.50; SR: 113.79)
Background: Despite hailing from Uttarakhand, Sneh began her domestic career with Punjab. Then in 2014, she made her international debut. After years of being in and out of the national team set-up, and grappling with injuries and the personal loss of losing her father recently, the all-rounder returned to the Indian team this year.
Sneh has also been an important all-round option, with the senior player using her experience whenever called upon. With the ball, she’s taken important wickets through the tournament, mainly suffocating the opponent for runs.
N. Shree Charani
Age: 21
Where from: Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh
Stats: 14 wickets in 9 innings (BBI: 3/41; Avg: 27.64; Econ: 4.96)
Background: It was badminton which would occupy much of a six-year-old Shree Charani’s time, but she would make it a point to keep cricket a part of her daily life. The Covid-19 pandemic then allowed her to practise cricket at a ground near her house. It was her impressive performances with the Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League which earned her a spot in the national team.
The young left-arm spinner has been another revelation for the Indian camp. Shree Charani ended her maiden ODI World Cup campaign as India’s second-highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps, with her best figures of three for 41 came against Australia in the league stage.
Radha Yadav
Age: 25
Where from: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Stats: 4 wickets in 3 innings (BBI: 3/30; Avg: 35.25; SR:
Background: Growing in Mumbai’s Kandivali, Radha’s paths had crossed with Jemimah many a times in school tournaments and at age-level State teams. Radha made her international debut in 2018 after which she started playing domestically for Baroda.
While Radha hasn’t been India’s pick in the playing XIs for the majority of the tournament, she’s shown her athleticism to reinforce herself as the side’s best fielder. She starred with the ball against Bangladesh, taking three wickets in her six overs.
Amanjot Kaur
Age: 25
Where from: Mohali, Punjab
Stats: 146 runs in 7 innings (HS: 57; Avg: 36.50;
Background: After switching between the Punjab and Chandigarh domestic sides, she made her India debut in early 2023. However, tragedy struck in mid 2024 when a back stress fracture ruled her out for six months. After rehab, she slowly made her way back to domestic cricket and then staked a claim for a place in the India side with match-winning performances in WPL 2025 for the Mumbai Indians.
Amanjot is another all-rounder who has shone for India in this tournament. Often coming out to bat in pressure situations, she has kept cool and played some crucial knocks, as she showed against Australia in the semifinal. With the ball too, she has chipped in with six wickets in the tournament.
Arundhati Reddy
Age: 28
Where from: Hyderabad, Telangana
Background: Picked up the sport from her teen years, Arundhati went on to climb the ranks of the Hyderabad domestic set-up. Later, she went on to represent Railways and Kerala sides while being part of the Indian T20I team since her debut in 2018. Her ODI debut came only last year as she also impressed in the WPL with the Delhi Capitals.
She might not have played a match for India in this tournament but Arundhati has been a livewire in the outfield. She showed this during the match against Bangladesh when she took a stunning catch at deep mid-wicket while replacing Pratika on the field.
Kranti Goud
Age: 22
Where from: Ghuwara, Madhya Pradesh
Stats: 9 wickets in 8 innings (BBI: 3/20; Avg: 40.11; Econ: 5.73)
Background: Until 2017, a young Kranti — who quit studies after class 8 — would play local tournaments along with boys with a tennis or rubber ball. After that, she began training at an academy in Chhatarpur, during which would shuttle between it and her home as she started representing MP in age-level tournaments. A four-wicket haul against Bengal in the final of the Women’s Senior One Day Trophy 2024 and a creditable maiden WPL season with UP Warriorz earned her a spot in the Indian team.
In Renuka’s absence, Kranti has fulfilled the expectations of being the primary pace bowler with maturity. The youngster from Madhya Pradesh finished her World Cup campaign with nine wickets.
Shafali Verma
Age: 21
Where from: Rohtak, Haryana
Stats: 97 runs in 2 innings (HS: 87; Avg: 48.50; SR: 116.86); 2 wickets in 1 inning (BBI: 2/36; Avg: 18.00; Econ: 5.14)
Background: A 10-year-old Shafali, with short hair, had replaced her brother in a boys’ tournament. She’d bagged the major individual awards in that competition and few years later, at 15, she became the then youngest T20I debutant in women’s cricket. Slowly, she stamped her class across formats and even captained India to the U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.
After Pratika was sidelined for the remainder of the tournament, big-hitting Shafali was called up to the squad, with the youngster returning to the national ODI set-up after a year. While she failed to impress against Australia in the semifinal, she ended up being the Player of the Match in the final for her 78-ball 87 and two wickets with the ball.
(Tejal Hasabnis, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Minnu Mani, and Sayali Satghare were reserves for India)
Published on Nov 02, 2025
