Women’s XI of the year after a World Cup-dominated 2025

India’s quest to build a global women’s cricket dynasty moved forward in 2025, capped by Harmanpreet Kaur’s side celebrating a long-awaited World Cup triumph at the DY Patil Stadium. The year featured only one Test, the Ashes at Melbourne, so the Spin’s cross-format team gives heavy weight to performances in the World Cup’s key moments.

Smriti Mandhana (India): Had the most prolific year of any female cricketer in history, including a T20 century at Trent Bridge and a record 1,362 ODI runs in 2025. Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) – captain: Scored multiple centuries, including back-to-back hundreds in the World Cup semi-final and final, and led South Africa with outstanding batting throughout the tournament.

Jemimah Rodrigues (India): Ended the year with two hundreds and played a match-defining semi-final innings after losing her place mid-tournament, later delivering the decisive contribution in the final. Beth Mooney (Australia) – wicketkeeper: Scored an unbeaten 94 in an Adelaide T20, filled in expertly behind the stumps and finished a series with a prolific run tally.

Nat Sciver-Brunt (England): Took on the England captaincy amid a difficult start to the year and remained her country’s most reliable batter, helping them reach the World Cup knockouts. Ash Gardner (Australia): Evolved from a big-hitting finisher into a long-innings batter, producing crucial World Cup hundreds and retaining her ICC No 1 all-rounder status with 19 wickets.

Key Topics

Sports, United States, Women's Cricket, World Cup, India, Australia, England