From Dream to Glory: India’s 16 Women World Cup Champions

Manaswi Panchbhai

Harmanpreet Kaur

India’s fearless Captain who became the 1st woman to bring the World Cup trophy home. Her calm leadership and crucial knocks anchored India’s campaign.

Smriti Mandhana

Born in Sangli, Mandhana debuted for India at 16 & soon became a world-class opener. Her 2016 century against Australia marked her rise, & as ODI vice-captain, she continues to be one of the top-ranked batters globally.

Jemimah Rodrigues

Bandra-born Jemimah Rodrigues, who debuted for India at 17, starred in the 2025 World Cup semi-final with a stunning unbeaten 127 against Australia, cementing her status as one of India’s finest match-winners.

Deepti Sharma

Deepti Sharma’s journey began with a powerful throw that caught a selector’s eye. Debuting at 17, she’s become India’s most dependable all-rounder and ranking among the country’s top ODI wicket-takers.

Richa Ghosh

Richa Ghosh’s cricket journey began in Kolkata. The first girl at Baghajatin Athletic Club, she rose through the ranks to become India’s wicketkeeper-batter, known for her fearless stroke play and explosive power-hitting.

Harleen Deol

She is a talented batter and off-break bowler from Himachal Pradesh, rose to fame in the Women’s T20 Challenge. Known for sharp fielding and smart play, she solidified her spot as India’s No.3 batter, showcasing skill and consistency on the international stage.

Pratika Rawal

Excelling in cricket and academics, she made an immediate impact in ODIs, forming a strong opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana, before an injury cut her World Cup campaign short.

Uma Chetry

Uma Chetry – North-East India’s sole World Cup player, made her ODI debut as a reserve, shining as a wicketkeeper-batter and inspiring cricket in her region.

Kranti Gaud

Kranti Gaud, from a small town in Madhya Pradesh, rose from tennis-ball cricket to World Cup stardom, overcoming financial hardships and social bias, and earned Player of the Match against Pakistan, inspiring her village.

Sneh Rana

Sneh Rana, debuting in 2014, overcame setbacks and honed her all-round skills in domestic cricket. Despite WPL disappointments, she earned a late call-up and shone in India’s World Cup squad.

Renuka Singh Thakur

Renuka, who lost her father at 3, honed her skills playing with boys and at HPCA Academy. Since her 2021 debut, she has become a key swing bowler for India.

Arundhati Reddy

Arundhati Reddy, a Hyderabad-born pace all-rounder, debuted in T20Is in 2018 and ODIs in 2024. Her moves to Railways and Kerala shaped her career, and she starred in last year’s T20 World Cup.

Radha Yadav

Radha Yadav, 25, Baroda spin all-rounder and India’s first woman from Gujarat, debuted in T20Is in 2018 and ODIs in 2021, earning her World Cup spot after a teammate’s injury.

Amanjot Kaur

Amanjot Kaur, 25, Chandigarh, pace all-rounder, overcame early challenges with her father’s support, debuted in T20Is, and bounced back from 2024 injuries to shine in the WPL with Mumbai Indians.

Sree Charani

Sree Charani, 21, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, started playing cricket with her uncle using plastic bats, switched from athletics to cricket, impressed at WPL, and earned her spot as a left-arm spinner in India’s ODI squad.

Shafali Verma

Shafali Verma, 21, Rohtak, wowed from age 15, became India’s youngest international half-centurion, led the U19 T20 World Cup win, and rejoined the team after Pratika Rawal’s injury.

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