The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming home Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 in late autumn. The event will begin on September 30 with the home side taking on Sri Lanka at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, as the final is scheduled to take place at the same venue on November 02.

Under Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s curtain-raiser will be against Sri Lanka on September 30 in Bengaluru before they fly to Colombo for the vital fixture against Pakistan. On October 09, they will lock horns with South Africa in Vizag before taking on Australia at the same venue. Their last three encounters will be against England, New Zealand, and Bangladesh in Indore, Guwahati, and Bengaluru, respectively.

See Also: India announce 15-member squad for Asia Cup 2025

India’s squad for Women’s ODI World Cup 2025

Harmanpreet Kaur (Capt), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (WK), Kranti Gaud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (WK) and Sneh Rana

Let’s take a look at 3 players who can be X factor for India in ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025

1. Smriti Mandhana

The left-handed opening batter, Smriti Mandhana, will be a crucial member of the side. Overall, she has smashed 4588 runs in 105 innings at an average of 46.34 and a strike rate of 87.82, with the help of 31 half-centuries and 11 centuries at the best score of 136 runs.

During the recent three-match ODI series in England, the southpaw clubbed 115 runs in three innings. In the last two fixtures at Lord’s and Chester-Le-Street, she got starts and pushed the score into the 40s, but couldn’t celebrate her fifty.

His opening partnership with Shafali Verma is the most important part for the national side to earn success in the format. Besides that, being a veteran, she will need to carry an extra responsibility in crunch situations.

2. Harmanpreet Kaur 

For any ICC event, the eyes always remain on the captain of a side. That’s the same with India’s Harmanpreet Kaur, as it could prove to be the last ODI World Cup for the 36-year-old. Overall, she has scored 4069 runs in 129 ODI innings at an average of 37.67 and a strike rate of 75.92 with the help of 19 fifties and seven centuries at the best score of unbeaten 171 runs.

She was going through a tough patch in the last few months, with questions being raised over her position. But she proved her skills again with a fine knock of 102 runs in 84 balls with the help of 14 boundaries at a strike rate of more than 120 during the third ODI against England in Durham.

Kaur will also face the normal challenge and pressure of a home World Cup, but moreover, her batting at number four will be the most crucial aspect in the middle order for the Blue Brigade. 

3. Deepti Sharma 

The 27-year-old spin all-rounder, Deepti Sharma, has kept the balance of the Indian side in the white-ball formats. In 93 ODI innings, she has smashed 2392 runs at an average of 36.80 and a strike rate of 68.10 with 14 fifties and one century at the best score of 188, while with the ball, she has picked up 136 wickets at an average of 28 and an economy rate of just over four.

Deepti has been a terrific performer for India in crises. She has the skill to bat in the lower order and crunch the big shots, besides bowling tight overs in the middle phase of the innings. If needed, she could also come and bat at the top order.