Dubai
India’s triumphant Women’s World Cup campaign was richly reflected in the ICC’s Team of the Tournament, with Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma earning well-deserved spots in the star-studded lineup announced on Tuesday.
The trio played crucial roles in guiding India to their maiden World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final at Navi Mumbai on Sunday. Mandhana finished as the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer with 434 runs at an average of 54.25, including a brilliant 109 against New Zealand and consistent knocks against Australia and England.
Rodrigues, who amassed 292 runs at 58.40, was a revelation in the middle order. Her unbeaten 127 against Australia in the semifinal was pivotal to India’s progression, while her steady contributions throughout the tournament underlined her maturity as a match-winner.
All-rounder Deepti Sharma, named Player of the Tournament, was India’s heartbeat across formats — scoring 215 runs and taking 22 wickets at an average of 20.40. Her heroic 5/39 and 58 runs in the final showcased her all-round brilliance and big-match temperament.
South Africa, the runners-up, also saw three players make the cut — captain Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, and Nadine de Klerk — with Wolvaardt named captain of the Team of the Tournament after smashing a record-breaking 571 runs. Australia contributed three names, while England’s Sophie Ecclestone and Pakistan’s Sidra Nawaz rounded off the XI.
The selection highlighted the growing depth and global competitiveness of women’s cricket, with India’s dominant presence underscoring their emergence as the new powerhouse of the sport.
