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.

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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.

Australian captain Alyssa Healy is working hard to produce her strong performances in the upcoming ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025. She also spoke about the hosts India Women's chances for the tournament.  

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 will run between September 30 and November 2, 2025. India will host all the matches of the tournament, except for the matches against Pakistan Women, who will play all their fixtures of the competition in Sri Lanka, including their match against India Women.  

The seven-time Women's ODI World Cup winners Australia Women will play in the upcoming 13th edition of the tournament as the defending champions, with Alyssa Healy leading the team. Since 1993, none of the teams has defended their Women's ODI World Cup title, while Australia Women have only recorded it previously by winning three successive editions (1978, 1982, and 1988). 

They are going to be really tough to beat: Alyssa Healy about India Women 

Without any doubt, the defending champions Australia Women will start the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 as the favourites. Talking about the challenges in the tournament, Aussie captain Alyssa Healy mentioned the names of two teams. The no.1 ranked Women's ODI team skipper feels that the second-ranked side England Women, and the third-ranked side India Women will be tough to beat in the forthcoming tournament. In fact, Healy feels that India Women will be the toughest to beat. 

Healy told reporters, "I wouldn't write England off just yet, I think they will find a groove under Lottie (Charlotte Edwards). But I think the way that India are playing, at home in those conditions, they are going to be really tough to beat.” 

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India Women finished as runners-up twice

England Women have won the Women's ODI World Cup four times, the second successful team in the competition's history after Australia Women, and India Women have the best results of finishing as the runners-up twice (2005 and 2017). Recently, India Women won the T20I and ODI series against the hosts England Women, which shows the toughness of the Women in Blues.