Team India created history at the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, clinching their maiden title after defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling final at the DY Patil Stadium.
The tournament, which showcased record-breaking performances and rising stars, ended with Shafali Verma being named Player of the Match for her heroics in the final, while Deepti Sharma claimed the Player of the Tournament award for her all-round consistency.
As India celebrates its monumental victory, here’s a deep dive into the numbers that defined the 2025 Women’s World Cup.
Laura Wolvaardt: The unstoppable run machine
South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt emerged as the top run-scorer of the tournament, piling up 571 runs at an average of 71.37, the highest aggregate in any Women’s World Cup edition.
- Wolvaardt scored centuries in both the semi-final and final, demonstrating exceptional composure under pressure.
- Her unbeaten 169 against England in the semi-final stands as the highest individual score of the tournament.
- Only India’s Smriti Mandhana came remotely close, amassing 434 runs at 54.25, continuing her reputation as India’s most dependable top-order batter.
Multiple centurions dominate the batting charts
Only three batters managed to score multiple hundreds during the event:
- Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)
- Ashleigh Gardner (Australia)
- Alyssa Healy (Australia)
Interestingly, Gardner was the only non-opener in this elite list, underlining her adaptability in different batting positions.
Meanwhile, Healy’s 142 against India was the only other 130-plus knock of the tournament, showing her penchant for delivering on the big stage.
The power hitters: Richa Ghosh tops the six-hitting charts
India’s Richa Ghosh redefined power hitting in women’s cricket with 12 sixes, the most in the tournament.
- South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk followed closely with 10 maximums.
- Richa (strike rate: 133.52) and De Klerk (strike rate: 131.65) also topped the strike-rate leaderboard among players with at least 50 runs.
- Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner had the best batting average (82.00), combining composure and aggression seamlessly.
Deepti Sharma: India’s bowling spearhead
India’s triumph was built as much on disciplined bowling as on batting fireworks, and Deepti Sharma led the charge.
- Deepti finished as the highest wicket-taker with 22 wickets at 20.41, including a match-winning 5/39 in the final.
- Australia’s Annabel Sutherland followed with 17 wickets at 15.82, while England’s Sophie Ecclestone boasted the best average (14.25) among bowlers with six or more wickets.
- New Zealand’s Lea Tahuhu (15.70) and Sutherland (15.82) rounded out the list of bowlers averaging under 16.
Alana King’s record-breaking spell
Australia’s Alana King produced a performance for the ages, recording 7/18 against South Africa, the best figures in Women’s World Cup history.
Other five-wicket hauls in the tournament included:
- Marizanne Kapp (5/20 vs England)
- Deepti Sharma (5/39 vs South Africa, Final)
- Annabel Sutherland (5/40 vs India)
Among bowlers with six or more wickets, King also had the best economy rate (4.04), narrowly ahead of Ecclestone (4.06), underlining her dominance across formats.
Fielding brilliance and wicketkeeping milestones
Fielding often decides tight matches, and this World Cup was no different.
- Suzie Bates (NZ), Laura Wolvaardt (SA), and Smriti Mandhana (IND) took eight catches each, jointly topping the chart.
- Bates also set a record for the most catches in a single match (4) against Australia.
- Among wicketkeepers, Sidra Nawaz (Pakistan) led with eight dismissals, followed by Alyssa Healy, Nigar Sultana (Bangladesh), and Sinalo Jafta (South Africa), all with six dismissals each.
Partnerships that changed games
The tournament saw two 200-plus opening stands, a rarity in women’s cricket.
- Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal added 212 runs for India against New Zealand, the highest partnership of the competition.
- Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield shared an unbeaten 202-run stand against Bangladesh, sealing a 10-wicket victory.
Both India and Australia registered record-breaking 10-wicket wins, showcasing their dominance at the top of the order.
Team records and highest scores
India dominated the batting charts at the team level as well.
- The side registered the two highest team totals of the tournament:
- 341/5 vs Australia (while chasing 339)
- 340/3 vs New Zealand
- Both matches produced the two highest successful chases in Women’s ODI history: India’s 339 chase vs Australia, followed by Australia’s 331 vs India.
- South Africa recorded the largest victory margin (150 runs vs. Pakistan) and followed it with another dominant 125-run win against England in the semi-final.
What the numbers tell us
The 2025 Women’s World Cup wasn’t just about India’s long-awaited triumph; it symbolized a new era of competitiveness and aggression in women’s cricket.
With record-breaking totals, increased strike rates, and standout performances from emerging stars, the tournament highlighted how the women’s game continues to evolve, blending flair, power, and tactical depth like never before.
