India’s star batsman Smriti Mandhana has been named among the nominees for the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup Awards. On Tuesday, October 28, the ICC announced the shortlist, which includes Mandhana along with Laura Wolvaardt, Alana King, Alyssa Healy, Ash Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Nadine de Klerk, Deepti Sharma and Heather Knight.
Mandhana topped the tournament’s run charts in her best World Cup to date, highlighted by a brilliant hundred in India’s must-win match against New Zealand’s Sophie Devine that secured a semi-final spot. She also scored 80 against Australia and 88 against England.
With five ODI hundreds this year, she remains India’s key batsman heading into the knockouts, equaling Tazmin Brits’ record for women’s ODI hundreds in a calendar year and becoming the first to cross 1,000 runs in a year.
Deepti Sharma’s all-round brilliance also flashed with two fifties and four wickets against England. Deepti also became only the fourth female cricketer after Marizanne Kapp, Ellyse Perry and Stafanie Taylor to complete the double of 2500 runs and 150 wickets in ODIs.
HEALTHY, GARDNER, KING DOMINATE
Laura Wolvaardt was once again the rock of the South African batting, becoming one of only three players to cross 300 runs in the tournament. Her three fifties against India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh gave the Proteas calm, steady starts and crucial victories.
Australia’s Alana King took a record 7/18 against South Africa – the best figures in the history of the Women’s World Cup and by any Australian in ODIs. Despite missing matches due to injury, Alyssa Healy dominated every innings she played, smashing 142 against India in a record chase and an unbeaten ton against Bangladesh, amassing nearly 300 runs in four knocks.
Ashleigh Gardner shone with both bat and ball, starting with a century against New Zealand and the fastest of the tournament (69 balls) against England. Annabel Sutherland is Australia’s pressure specialist, taking 5/40 to restrict India, scoring an unbeaten 98 against England and sharing the top spot in the wicket-taking charts with Deepti Sharma.
For South Africa, Nadine de Klerk’s fearless lower-order hitting – including 84 not out against India and 37 not out against Bangladesh – was vital. England captain Heather Knight led from the front with a century against India and an unbeaten 79 in a major win over Bangladesh.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
October 28, 2025
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