The victorious Indian squad prominently features in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Team of the Tournament, with Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma all making the cut. This announcement follows India’s memorable maiden World Cup win, where they defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the final on Sunday.
Runners-up South Africa also have a strong presence with three players. Captain Laura Wolvaardt, who captained the Team of the Tournament, delivered an exceptional performance with the bat, amassing an astounding 571 runs at an average of 71.37 – a new record for the most runs in a single Women’s World Cup edition.
Australia, who reached the semi-finals, is represented by Annabel Sutherland, Ash Gardner, and leg-spinner Alana King. Pakistan’s stellar wicket-keeper, Sidra Nawaz, is the only player from a team outside the final four to be included.
England’s Sophie Ecclestone earned a spot for her strong contributions that helped her team reach the semi-finals, with her compatriot Nat Sciver-Brunt named as the 12th player.
Opening batter Mandhana showcased remarkable consistency throughout the tournament, scoring 434 runs at an average of 54.25, including one century and two half-centuries. She finished as the second-leading run-scorer, just behind Wolvaardt. Her magnificent 109 against New Zealand in Navi Mumbai was a highlight, alongside impactful scores of 80 and 88 against Australia and England, demonstrating her ability to perform under pressure against top teams.
Rodrigues was equally impressive, accumulating 292 runs at an average of 58.40, featuring one century and one fifty. Her unforgettable unbeaten 127 against Australia in the semi-finals was a pivotal moment, though she also delivered other crucial scores throughout the competition. An unbeaten 76 against New Zealand was vital for India’s journey to the semi-finals, and her knock of 24 complemented Shafali Verma’s explosive batting in the final against South Africa.
Deepti Sharma, named Player of the Tournament, was a true all-rounder instrumental in India’s title-winning campaign. With the bat, she scored 215 runs at an average of 30.71, including one century and three fifties. She was also the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, claiming 22 wickets at an average of 20.40.
Deepti delivered her best performance when it mattered most, taking 5/39 in the final against South Africa and adding 58 crucial runs with the bat. Her consistent ability to influence games with both bat and ball made her India’s most valuable player.
ICC Women’s World Cup Team of the Tournament:
- Smriti Mandhana (India)
- Laura Wolvaardt (c) (South Africa)
- Jemimah Rodrigues (India)
- Marizanne Kapp (South Africa)
- Ash Gardner (Australia)
- Deepti Sharma (India)
- Annabel Sutherland (Australia)
- Nadine de Klerk (South Africa)
- Sidra Nawaz (wk) (Pakistan)
- Alana King (Australia)
- Sophie Ecclestone (England)
- 12th Player: Nat Sciver-Brunt (England)