On Tuesday afternoon (August 19, 2025), BCCI announced the squad for the upcoming ICC Women's ODI World Cup, with Harmanpreet Kaur as the captain of the team. Kaur was a bit emotional while she was facing questions from the journalists present in BCCI's headquarters based in Mumbai.

The tournament will be commenced through a hybrid model in India and Sri Lanka as the host nations. Considering the recent performances and the venues, India will be one of the favorites to win the trophy. The World Cup is going to be very important for Kaur, as she said, "Personally, this World Cup is going to be very important for me."

Speculations around Kaur's cricket career, as she is now 36 and probably in her career's last phase. Sharing a portion of today's press conference, Star Sports wrote as a caption, "Last World Cup for skipper Harmanpreet?"

Read More: WATCH: Gautam Gambhir's old video resurfaces after Yashasvi Jaiswal was dropped from Asia Cup 2025 squad

A very special WC for the captain 

During her interaction with the media, the skipper said, "Personally, this World Cup is going to be very important for me. Every World Cup is important for me and for every player. It is a home tournament; that makes the World Cup more special for me. I've experienced batting at number 4. I will try to put my best effort into helping the team."

Last World Cup for skipper Harmanpreet? 🥺

Here’s what she had to say about the upcoming “special” tournament! 🗣

Watch the Press Conference 👉 https://t.co/kwwh4UUSWe pic.twitter.com/oXkJeGi3S3

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) August 19, 2025

Harmanpreet Kaur is a modern-day cricketer. When India's women's cricket was in a transition phase, she guided the team to multiple glorious moments with a newly formed squad. Her 171-run innings is still considered a batting testimonial. The middle-order batter scored the mammoth innings to beat defending champions Australia in the 2017 ODI World Cup semi-final. So far, she has played 149 ODIs and scored 4069 at an average of 37.67. In T20Is, she collected 3654 runs in 182 games. 

The wait is finally over. BCCI announced squads for the ICC Women's ODI World Cup and upcoming series. As per expectations, the selection committee has made some bold decisions to balance the team on pen and paper. The squad is a well mix of emerging talents and experienced candidates. For the World Cup, Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the troop. Smriti Mandhana will be there to help her with leadership duties.

Despite challenging weather conditions, officials reached the spot safely and conducted the press conference. BCCI secretary Devajit Sakia also reached the headquarters in Mumbai. Both Kaur and Mandhana also attended the highly anticipated press interaction season. Star cricketers like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh were considered the static names in the team. Not only about the playing XI, the Neetu David-led selection committee had to pay focus until the last minute on the depth of the entire squad.

The ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 is scheduled to start in September, where India will play the tournament opener with Sri Lanka. The tournament will be running on a hybrid model, with India and Sri Lanka as the host nations. Across the T20 nations, a total of 5 venues will be used to celebrate the cricket carnival.

Read More: Asia Cup 2025: Strongest Playing XI for India

Team India squad for ICC Women's ODI World Cup:

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 

Possible strongest playing XI:

Pratika Rawl, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Radha Yadav, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani. 

ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, Team India’s schedule:

30 September – India vs Sri Lanka – Bengaluru

5 October – India vs Pakistan – Colombo

9 October – India vs South Africa – Vizag

12 October – India vs Australia – Vizag

19 October – India vs. England – Indore

23 October – India vs. New Zealand – Guwahati

26 October – India vs. Bangladesh – Bengaluru

Women's ODI World Cup 2025 venues:

• M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
• Assam Cricket Association Stadium, Guwahati
• Holkar Stadium, Indore
• ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
• R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

India have been in a strong form in the last few months. They won the away three-match ODI series against England by a 2-1 margin, besides earning the victory during the tri-series involving South Africa and Sri Lanka. Their last ODI series defeat in bilateral clashes came in 2024/25 when they lost to Australia, who are the only side to beat them in a bilateral ODI series since 2021/22.

On August 19, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee, in the presence of chairman Ajit Agarkar, picked a 15-member squad for the upcoming home World Cup in late autumn. Their captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, and opener, Smriti Mandhana, arrived in Mumbai before the selection.

See Also: 'Bat at number 3..."- Ravichandran Ashwin votes for star India player's T20I comeback in Asia Cup 2025

The selectors decided to keep Shafali Verma out of the squad. They selection committee revealed that the opening batter has been kept in the system and would be under the scanner. She was dropped after last year's ODI series against Australia. However, she celebrated a fifty in the A-series last month down under. 

India declare 15-member ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 squad

During their recent trip to England, India women’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, is the second leading run-getter with 126 runs in three innings at an average of 42. In the bowling department, Kranti Goud remains the leading wicket-taker with nine scalps in three innings at an average of just over 15.

Smriti was in fabulous touch during the last season, where he got runs on various occasions. Along with Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, the first-choice wicket-keeper, will also be an important member of the squad for her incredible skills of batting in the lower order with a few overs to spare.

India’s opening clash 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.

India’s Women’s World Cup 2025 squad

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

Standby players- Tejal Hasabnis, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Uma Chetty, Minnu Mani, Sayali Satghare.

With 50 days left for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, the Indian women’s team is speaking with a confidence that feels different, calmer, sharper, and built on years of growth. At the heart of this shift is star opener Smriti Mandhana’s belief that the team’s mindset has undergone a transformation.

“The mindset has changed over the last two or three years. There’s a calmness with which I want to go about on the field,” Mandhana said at the tournament’s countdown event in Mumbai.

That calmness, she explained, comes from knowing exactly where to focus her efforts and how to execute effectively under pressure. With a preparation camp, a successful England tour, and one more series before the big event, India are entering the tournament with a settled plan and a united dressing room. “Whenever we’ve done well, everything else has taken care of itself,” she added.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, leading in her first ODI World Cup, echoed Mandhana’s sentiment but added her determination to finally bring home India’s first senior ICC trophy. “This time, I hope we will give our 100 per cent and break that final barrier,” she said, pointing to the belief built through recent series wins, including a landmark triumph in England.

ALSO SEE: Know why Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are unlikely to get selected for India in Asia Cup 2025

Fearless Youth, Past Memories, and Calm Confidence Fuel India’s Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Dream

Jemimah Rodrigues highlighted how the Women’s Premier League has helped create a fearless environment for new players, citing pacer Kranti Gaud’s match-winning performances in England. Former captain Mithali Raj, who led India to the 2017 final, believes the current combination of form, depth, and home advantage makes this team a genuine contender.

The memories of 2017, Harmanpreet’s unforgettable 171*, the near-miss in the final, and the unprecedented fan reception back home still fuel the side. But this time, they are not just driven by the dream of making history. They carry a calm, assured belief that they can.

India open their CWC25 campaign against Sri Lanka at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on September 30. The countdown is on, and Smriti Mandhana’s words perfectly capture the mood: confident, composed, and ready.

As the upcoming Women's ODI World Cup 2025 draws to a close, all eyes will be on the dynamic Indian Women's Cricket team. It will be a huge moment for the Indian women's team to be able to play in front of their home crowd. The hosts will kick off their World Cup campaign by facing Sri Lanka Women in the opener on September 30. 

With only 50 days to go before the all-important marquee tournament gets underway, three of India's top cricketing icons, namely Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemi Rodrigues, and Smriti Mandhana, featured in BCCI's latest ODI World Cup promo. The trio recognizes the magnitude and the gravity of the event and is fully aware of what the fans expect from them. When asked about how they feel about playing a home World Cup, Mandhana, who has been a part of two ODI World Cups already, feels that it is a special moment for her and her country. 

Moving on, the Indian women's team captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, also expressed her views and described what it will be like to play in front of the home crowd. The star batter admits that the pressure will be immense, but puts strong emphasis on playing quality cricket. Jemi Rodrigues also shared her own perspective on playing a home World Cup and talked briefly about how excited the team is to play in front of packed stadiums. The 24-year-old reflects on India's glorious run in white-ball cricket in recent times and draws inspiration from the historic series win against England. She remains hopeful that her team will be able to achieve something historic in the upcoming Women's ODI World Cup. 

See also: "....is a massive shot in the arm....": Sunil Gavaskar reacts after Shubman Gill set for Duleep Trophy

Watch the video here:

#TeamIndia’s Star Trio Captain @ImHarmanpreet, @mandhana_smriti and @JemiRodrigues talk about the excitement of playing a home World Cup, expectations and packed stadiums.

Snippets from the '50 Days to Go' event for ICC @cricketworldcup #WomenInBlue pic.twitter.com/guYrRZ6AyS

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) August 12, 2025

The Women's ODI World Cup 2025 starts on September 30. India, who are the hosts for this prestigious tournament, will look to make the most of the home advantage to register their maiden World Cup title win. Unlike the men's team, India's women's cricket team hasn't tasted a great deal of success. The team has gone without a single title win since the inaugural 1973 edition. Australia have been the most successful team in the history of women's ODI World Cup, with seven titles to their name. They are currently the defending champions, and the Indian women's team will need something incredibly special to beat the resilient Australian side in the upcoming Women's ODI World Cup 2025. 

Indian cricket’s past and present stars came together in Mumbai to celebrate 50 days to go for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, which returns to the subcontinent after nine years. The event saw legends Mithali Raj and Yuvraj Singh share the stage with current captains Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Jemimah Rodrigues.

Harmanpreet Kaur spoke about how Yuvraj Singh has inspired her over the years. “We want to break that barrier all Indians are waiting for. World Cups are always special, and I always want to do something special for my country. Whenever I see Yuvi bhaiya, it motivates me a lot,” she said.

Talking about the upcoming ODI series against Australia, Harmanpreet said it will be a good test for the team. “Playing against Australia is always tough, and it shows us where we stand. This series will give us a lot of confidence. We’ve worked hard in our training camps, and the results are showing,” she added.

Harmanpreet Kaur said "Whenever I see Yuvi Bhaiya, it gives me a lot of Motivation". pic.twitter.com/PF4sHGfZ5R

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 11, 2025

Yuvraj Singh also shared a special message for the women’s team. “It’s a great chance to create history. But you shouldn’t think about winning from the very start. Enjoy the journey, focus on the process, and the results will come,” he said.

ALSO READ: OTD: Three legends of West Indies played their last ever Test match

The event also launched the ICC Trophy Tour, starting in Mumbai and travelling to all host cities, including Delhi. As part of a school program, students will get a chance to be part of the tournament, and some schools will even receive match tickets.

India Women edged past England Women by 13 runs in a nail-biting finish to win the third and final ODI at Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street, and clinch the series 2-1. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur produced a captain’s knock, scoring a magnificent 102 off 84 balls, while young spinner Kranti Goud dismantled England’s chase with an outstanding six-wicket haul.

India Women Innings: 318/5 in 50 Overs

India opted to bat first after Harmanpreet won the toss. Openers Pratika Rawal (26 off 33) and Smriti Mandhana (45 off 54) got India off to a steady start. After their dismissals, Harleen Deol added another 45 runs off 65 balls. The innings picked up pace once Harmanpreet walked in at No. 4. She hit 14 fours and held the innings together with dominance. Harmanpreet put together a decisive 110-run partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues, who marked her 50th ODI with 50 runs off 45 balls, with 7 boundaries. Richa Ghosh (38* off 18) played a scintillating cameo towards the end, ably assisted by Radha Yadav (2*), as India racked up an intimidating 318/5 in 50 overs.

All five English bowlers—Lauren Bell, Lauren Filer, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, and Linsey Smith—got a single wicket each, but none were able to stop the run flow.

England Women Innings: 305/10 in 49.5 Overs

In response, England got off to a disastrous start, losing both openers—Tammy Beaumont (2) and Amy Jones (4)—to Kranti Goud within the first three overs. However, Emma Lamb (68 off 81) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (98 off 105) steadied the innings with a 102-run third-wicket stand. Sciver-Brunt, who struck 11 fours, was just short of her century, being dismissed by Deepti Sharma. Sophia Dunkley (34), Alice Davidson-Richards (44 from 34), and Charlotte Dean (21) kept the charge going, but steady Indian breakthroughs meant the flow never quite shifted in England's favor.

Kranti Goud was the star with the ball, taking 6 wickets for 52 runs from 9.5 overs—her personal best career figures. Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani each took one wicket, while Radha Yadav and Jemimah Rodrigues contributed as well. England were bowled out for 305 in 49.5 overs, 14 runs short of the target.

ENG W vs IND W, 3rd ODI: Key Moments

• Harmanpreet Kaur's 102 (84) with 14 boundaries.
  
• Jemimah Rodrigues played her 50th ODI with a half-century.
  
• Richa Ghosh's late appearance (38* off 18) took India to 318/5.
  
• Kranti Goud's match-winning spell of 6/52 was the game's best performance.
  
• England was short by 13 runs even as Sciver-Brunt achieved a near century (98 off 105).

India showcased strong all-around cricket with leadership from their captain and brilliance from young talents like Kranti Goud. With this win, the Women in Blue sealed the ODI series 2-1, ending their England tour on a high.

ENG W vs IND W, 3rd ODI: Summary

India Women Innings

England Women Innings

Harmanpreet Kaur couldn’t have picked a better time to shine. In the final and most important match of the series, the Indian captain played one of her finest knocks a brilliant 102 off just 84 balls to help India post a big total and seal the series against England.

She started slowly but picked up pace beautifully, showing once again why she’s one of the best in the game when it comes to accelerating an innings. Her hundred came off just 82 balls the second fastest by an Indian woman in ODIs.

This innings wasn’t just about helping the team win. It was also full of personal milestones. Harmanpreet became only the third Indian woman to cross 4,000 runs in ODIs, after legends Mithali Raj and Smriti Mandhana. She also matched Mithali’s tally of seven hundreds in the format  with only Smriti ahead of her with 11.

🚨 HISTORY FOR HARMANPREET 🚨

- Harmanpreet Kaur becomes first Visiting player to score 3 ODI Hundreds in England in Women's Cricket. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/1QO9AJTseF

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) July 22, 2025

More importantly, this was her third century in England the most by any visiting batter in women’s ODIs. Her love for batting in England continues to grow. Her first came in the 2017 World Cup semifinal against Australia the unforgettable 171. The second was a powerful 143* in Canterbury in 2022. And now, this match-winning 102.

India finished with 318/5, with a strong partnership between Harmanpreet and Jemimah Rodrigues in the final overs. After both teams had won one match each in the series, this decider was all about who wanted it more. Harmanpreet, the captain, played a fantastic innings in the decider, and the team scored 318 runs, losing 5 wickets.

England Women beat the India Women in the second ODI match by eight wickets using the DLS method. The England team successfully chased down the target. 

England will be eager to avoid losing another series on home turf. For India Women, the chance to pull off another standout result is right in front of them.

ENG-W vs IND-W Match Details

Date: July 22nd, 2025

Time: 5:30 PM IST

Venue: Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street 

Live Streaming: Fancode  

ENG-W vs IND-W Weather Report

Clear weather and a nice evening are expected for the game.

Also Read: Zimbabwe T20I Tri Series 2025: NZ vs SA Prediction– Match 5, Who will win today?

Top Batters ENG-W vs IND-W

• Sophia Dunkley (ENG-W) - 92 runs in this Series 

• Deepti Sharma (IND-W)  - 92 runs in this Series 

• Smriti Mandhana (IND-W) - 70 runs in this Series 

Top Bowler ENG-W vs IND-W

• Sophie Ecclestone (ENG-W) - 4 wickets in this Series 

• Sneh Rana (IND-W) - 3 wickets in this Series 

• Charlotte Dean (ENG-W) - 2 wickets in this Series 

ENG-W vs IND-W Recent Performance

ENG-W vs IND-W Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If ENG-W bats first

• First Innings score prediction- ENG-W is expected to score 255-265 runs

• Result prediction- IND-W will win the match by 5 Wickets.

Scenario 2- If IND-W bats first

• First Innings score prediction- IND-W is expected to score 290-300 runs.

• Result prediction- IND-W will win the match by 35-40 Runs

ENG-W vs IND-W Predicted Playing XI

England Women (ENG-W) Playing XI 

Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones (wk), Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Sophia Dunkley, Alice Davidson Richards, Charlotte Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross, Lauren Filer, Lauren Bell.

India Women (IND-W) Playing XI

Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Shree Charani, Kranti Goud.

ENG-W vs IND-W Today Match Prediction, Who Will Win the Match?

India Women to win

We predict that India Women will be winning this ODI match. The likes of Harleen Deol, Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma will be key players to watch out for.

July 20, 2017, is not only significant for Indian women's cricket but for the entire women's cricket world. It was the day when Harmanpreet Kaur played a thunderous innings to outclass Australia and send India to the final of the ICC Women's World Cup.

Kaur, in this match at Derby, against Australia, played a 115-ball, unbeaten 171-run innings—back in those days, it was a rare display of batting in women's cricket. Australia was the defending champion, and they were one of the favorite contenders to claim the title for their strong squad on paper. To make the situation tougher for India, rain came to interrupt the important match. Over reduced. The 50-50 over match was reduced to a 42-over-a-side contest.

When Kaur came into the ground with a bat, India was in trouble, losing their openers Smriti Mandhana and Punam Raut within the 10th over of the first innings. Harmanpreet gradually increased the pace of her innings. Kaur struck the first fifty of the innings against 64 balls, the second off 26, and her third came facing only 17. During her unbeaten 171-run innings, the batter hammered 20 boundaries and seven over boundaries; the strike rate was 148.69. Batting first, India scored 281 for 4 wickets. 

Read More: WATCH: Sam Curran's stunning one handed catch on his own bowling in T20 Blast

A couple of 50 plus innings from Australia were not enough to push India behind 

Elyse Villani's 75 and Alex Blackwell's 90-run innings kept Australia in the fight, but not till the end. The defending champions lost all of their wickets in 245 runs.

India won the match by 36 runs and moved to the final of the ICC Women's World Cup 2017. Without any doubts, Harmanpreet Kaur was the best performer of that match against Australia for her monstrous innings.