PANAJI
The 13th edition of ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup will be held from 30 September – 02 November 2025, with India and Sri Lanka jointly hosting the prestigious tournament. It will be the fourth time that India is hosting the event having previously hosted it in 1978, 1997 and 2013.
The world’s top-8 women's cricket teams will battle it out on the field for the biggest prize in the sport.
Till date, only three nations have managed to lift the Women’s Cricket World Cup. Australia leads the tally having won the title a record seven times, England winning it on four occasion, while New Zealand has lifted the World Cup once. India has never won the Women’s World Cup. They have been runners-up in 2005 and 2017.
So, who has better chances of winning the World Cup this time around? Will the title go to a familiar champion, or will we see a new team winning it?
Let’s try to find out the top 5 contenders who can win the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
India
As hosts, India will go into the 2025 Women’s World Cup carrying high hopes and expectations. Having previously reached the finals of the 2005 and 2017 ODI World Cup and 2020 T20 World Cup, India will be determined to finally secure its first major ICC title in women’s cricket. Led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, the squad features a strong batting line-up and good fast bowlers. The team has match-winning players like Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, and Renuka Singh in its line-up who have delivered consistently on the big stage in recent times. With home advantage and crowd support, India will be a formidable team and one of the strong contenders to win the title.
Australia
No country has dominated women’s cricket as much as Australia. They are in a league of its own. With seven World Cup titles, Australia is the most successful side in the tournament’s history and the current reigning champions. Their squad boasts of top-class players like Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, and Megan Schutt who are capable of single-handedly winning matches. Australia’s strength lies in their all-round excellence having a solid combination of top-order batsmen, match-winning all-rounders and one of the best fielding sides in world cricket. Their team has remarkable depth, consistency, ability to thrive on the biggest stage and deliver when it matters the most. Australia will once again be the favourites to win their eighth title.
England
2017 Women’s World Cup champions England will be a strong contender to lift their fifth World Cup title. Their success has been built by a robust domestic structure. With an impressive batting line-up and world-class spinners, England is one of the most tactically astute team. With players like Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Heather Knight, and Alice Capsey, England has a balanced squad who has vast experience on the big stage and their line-up consists of multiple match-winners who are capable of performing in any conditions.
New Zealand
Reigning T20 World champions and 2000 ODI World Cup winner New Zealand, has made remarkable progress in women’s cricket in recent times. With players like Sophie Devine, Amelia Kerr, Suzie Bates, and Lea Tahuhu, the team has a good set of experienced players who are capable of winning matches on their own. New Zealand’s recent rise in women’s cricket should make them no pushovers and they will be eager to add a second World Cup title to their kitty.
South Africa
South Africa will be looking forward to win their maiden World Cup title. Their recent performances speak a lot of their capability. They were runners-up during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 and semi-finalists during last ODI World Cup. With a healthy mix of experienced players and young talent, the Proteas have become a formidable unit capable of challenging any opponent. With players like Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, and Nadine de Klerk, South Africa has a set of dynamic all-rounders, lethal pace attack and sharp fielders. With such a combination, no team can take them lightly.
Apart from the top five contenders, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh will also feature in the tournament. While they may not be considered favourites, these teams are capable of pulling off upsets and disrupt the plans of the tournament's top sides.
