Indian batting ace Smriti Mandhana is one of the contenders for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 honours. The International Cricket Council announced the nominees on Tuesday, 28 October, with Mandhana joining Ash Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Laura Wolvaardt, Alyssa Healy, Alana King, Nadine de Klerk, Deepti Sharma, and Heather Knight.
Mandhana has been one of the standout performers of the tournament, topping the run charts with consistent performances. She produced a brilliant century in India’s must-win encounter against New Zealand, guiding her team into the semi-finals. Earlier, she struck 80 against Australia and 88 against England, anchoring India’s batting efforts.
In 2025, Mandhana scored five ODI hundreds, matching Tazmin Brits’ record for the most centuries in a single year. She also became the first player to cross 1,000 ODI runs in 2025.
Deepti Sharma has stood tall as one of India’s most dependable performers in the ongoing World Cup. With two valuable fifties and a decisive four-wicket haul versus England, she has shown her all-round class. She joined Kapp, Perry, and Taylor in the list of cricketers who have amassed 2,500 runs and 150 wickets in ODIs.
South Africa’s batting has revolved around Laura Wolvaardt, who is among just three players to have passed 300 runs in this year’s competition. Her composed half-centuries against India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh gave South Africa strong foundations and proved decisive in crucial matches.
Australia’s Alana King made history with a sensational spell of 7 for 18 against South Africa, setting a new benchmark for the best bowling figures in Women’s World Cup history. Despite missing a few matches, Alyssa Healy has dominated every outing, smashing 142 against India in a record run chase and following it up with an unbeaten century versus Bangladesh, accumulating close to 300 runs from four innings.
All-rounder Ashleigh Gardner has impressed with both bat and ball, beginning her campaign with a century against New Zealand before blasting the fastest hundred of the tournament off just 69 deliveries against England. Annabel Sutherland has stood tall in pressure moments, taking 5 for 40 to halt India’s momentum, striking an unbeaten 98 against England, and sharing the top spot on the wicket charts alongside Deepti Sharma.
For South Africa, Nadine de Klerk has been a game-changer in the lower order, producing unbeaten knocks of 84 against India and 37 against Bangladesh to rescue her side in tight situations. Heather Knight, leading England from the front, hit a commanding century against India and an unbeaten 79 to guide her team past Bangladesh.