Harmanpreet Kaur excluded as ICC announces best team of Women's World Cup 2025

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the combined Playing XI with a standby cricketer after the conclusion of the Women's World Cup 2025. From the two finalists—the India Women's cricket team and the South Africa Women's cricket team—the ICC picked up a total of 6 players for the best eleven.

From India, it is Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma who are named for the specially mentioned playing combination. While from the runner-up team, Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, and Nadine de Klerk are able to make the final cut. Wolvaardt, the skipper of South Africa's women's team, was also named as the skipper for the best team of the 2025 World Cup. Annabel Sutherland, Ash Gardner, and leg-spinner Alana King feature from the Australian team that reached the semi-finals.

From the England cricket team, Sophie Ecclestone is in the team, and her compatriot Nat Sciver-Brunt is named as the 12th player. For the wicketkeeping role, Pakistan's Sidra Nawaz was named in a side. Surprisingly, team India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who led the team to the glory, is not mentioned in the honorary team. 

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Deepti Sharma emerged as India’s most valuable player and also the player of the tournament. In the tournament, she secured 215 runs, including a century, and claimed a total of 22 wickets at an average of 20.40. That match-winning unbeaten century from Jemimah Rodrigues in the semifinal against Australia was an unforgettable moment for Indian cricket. The Indian middle order scored 292 runs at an average of 58.40. And Smriti Mandhana, one of the most constant run scorers for the team in the tournament, notched up 434 runs at an average of 54.25, including a century and two fifties. 

The ICC Women’s World Cup Team of the Tournament: 

Smriti Mandhana (India), Laura Wolvaardt (c) (South Africa), Jemimah Rodrigues (India), Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), Ash Gardner (Australia), Deepti Sharma (India), Annabel Sutherland (Australia), Nadine de Klerk (South Africa), Sidra Nawaz (wk) (Pakistan), Alana King (Australia), Sophie Ecclestone (England), Nat Sciver-Brunt (England).