Meet the Women in Blue: A Complete Guide to the Indian Women Cricket Team
From the days when a few determined women picked up their bats in silence to now, when they play under bright lights and packed stands — the journey of the Indian women cricket team has been nothing short of incredible. They’ve grown, evolved, and in the process, inspired an entire nation to believe in them. In this guide, we’ll walk through their story — where it all began, how the team is built, the legends and the rising stars, the matches that changed everything, the WPL revolution, what young players can learn, and what lies ahead for the Women in Blue.
Why the Indian Women Cricket team matters
The Women in Blue represent India in all three formats — Tests, ODIs and T20Is — under the BCCI umbrella, with full ICC status. Across eras, they have contested in two ODI World Cup finals (2005 and 2017), a T20 World Cup final (2020), and stood on an Asian Games podium with gold (Hangzhou, 2023). The arc isn’t just symbolic, it is statistical, structural, and cultural.
Quick history about the Indian women cricket team and the milestones that shaped it
The Beginning:
India Women played their first international in 1976 — a Test against West Indies in Bengaluru that finished in a draw. A small, dedicated circuit sustained the early years; resources were thin, ambition was not.
Making its mark on the world stage
By 2005, India reached their first Women’s ODI World Cup final (lost to Australia). In 2017, they returned to the ODI summit clash at Lord’s, falling short by nine runs to England — but winning a nation’s attention.
2017 World Cup T20 Final in front of record attendance
On March 8, 2020, India walked out in front of 86,174 fans in the T20 World Cup final — a record crowd for women’s cricket, a landmark moment for the sport globally.
Historic Test wins at home
In December 2023, India beat England by an innings margin of 347 runs (the biggest in women’s Tests) and, a week later, downed Australia by eight wickets for their first-ever Test win over Australia.
2023 Asian Games Gold
In September 2023, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team defended 116 to beat Sri Lanka by 19 runs in Hangzhou, claiming India’s first women’s cricket gold at the Asian Games.
Major Trophies for the Indian Women Cricket Team
Women's Asia Cup
India Women played 9 Asia Cup tournaments so far, and won 7 of those (4 – ODI, 3 T20I).
ODI & T20 World Cup
India has not won an ODI or T20 World Cup (out of 13 ODI World Cups and 9 T20 World Cups). (Hoping this record would change tomorrow ! )
Current Stars of the Indian Women Cricket Team
Harmanpreet Kaur (captain)
Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, is known for her fearless batting and leadership. She is 36 years old, and made her international debut in 2009. Her explosive 171 against Australia* in the 2017 World Cup remains one of cricket’s greatest innings. She was the first Indian woman to score a T20I century and the first to play 150 T20Is. Under her captaincy, India won Asian Games gold in 2023 and achieved historic Test wins over England and Australia. Harmanpreet’s power, passion, and consistency have made her the true heartbeat of Indian women’s cricket.
Her latest accomplishment is entering the Final of 2025 ODI World Cup final.
Smriti Mandhana (Vice captain)
Smriti Mandhana is a shining star all-format opening batsman in the Indian women cricket team. She is 29 years old, and made her international debut in 2014. Known for her elegant stroke-play and composure, she became the first Indian woman to score centuries in all three formats (Test, ODI and T20I). She has played 6 Test matches at an average over 60.0.
In ODIs, she has played around 110–120 matches, amassed over 5,000 runs with more than 10 centuries.
In T20 Internationals she has scored nearly 4,000 runs, including 1 century and over 30 half-centuries.
Deepti Sharma
Deepti Sharma is the backbone of India’s all-round strength — a dependable left-handed batter and a clever right-arm off-spinner. She is 28 years old and made her international debut in 2014. She has played over 100 ODIs and 100 T20Is, scoring more than 2,000 international runs and taking over 180 wickets across formats. Deepti is the first Indian woman to achieve 1,000+ T20I runs and 100+ T20I wickets, and has also recorded one of the best ODI bowling figures (6/20 vs West Indies). Ranked among the top three T20I bowlers in the world, her ability to control games with both bat and ball makes her one of India’s most valuable and consistent match-winners.
Jemimah Rodrigues
Jemimah Rodrigues, a top-order batter and an excellent fielder, was born on September 5, 2000, made her international debut in 2018 at just 17 and quickly became known for her stylish stroke play, quick footwork, and calm presence under pressure. Jemimah has already represented India in over 100 international matches across ODIs and T20Is, amassing more than 2,000 runs with an impressive strike rate in T20s. Apart from her recent heroics in the 2025 ODI World Cup semi-final against Australia, she was a key performer in India’s 2022 Commonwealth Games silver-winning campaign and continues to shine in the WPL, playing crucial innings for Delhi Capitals. To top it all, she is an avid guitarist too!
Richa Ghosh
Richa Ghosh, explosive middle-order batter and wicketkeeper in Indian women’s cricket. She is 22 years old, and made her international debut in 2020 and quickly gained attention for her fearless hitting and finishing ability. Richa has already played over 70 international matches, scoring more than 1,000 runs across formats at a striking rate exceeding 130 in T20Is — among the best in women’s cricket. She was instrumental in India’s 2023 Asian Games gold medal win and has delivered crucial late-order cameos in ICC tournaments. Beyond her international success, Richa has been a key performer in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Pratika Rawal
Pratika Rawal, this 25 year old opening batter burst onto the international scene for the Indian women’s team, making her ODI debut on 22 December 2024 against the West Indies. She has become a dependable batter with an average of 50+, 2 hundreds and 7 fifties already in 24 ODI matches. She has earned multiple records – she became the fastest woman ever to 500 ODI runs (in just eight innings) and struck a maiden century of 154 runs in an ODI versus Ireland. Domestically she dominated for Delhi Women’s Cricket Team and then Railways Women’s Cricket Team, including an unbeaten 161* in a List A match.
Shafali Verma
Shafali Verma, born on January 28, 2004, is one of India’s most explosive batters and a symbol of fearless modern cricket. She made her international debut in 2019 at just 15, becoming the youngest Indian — male or female — to play a T20 International. Known for her aggressive stroke play and natural power, Shafali became the youngest cricketer to score a half-century for India and later helped the team reach the 2020 T20 World Cup final with blistering starts at the top. She was also a key part of India’s U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup-winning team in 2023, captaining them to the historic title. With over 3,000 international runs across formats and a growing reputation as a match-winner, Shafali continues to redefine India’s approach to T20 cricket — bold, fast, and fearless.
Harleen Deol
Harleen Deol, born on June 21, 1998, is a stylish right-handed batter and part-time leg-spinner for the Indian women’s cricket team. She made her international debut in 2019 and quickly gained recognition for her elegant batting and exceptional fielding — especially after her spectacular boundary catch against England in 2021 went viral. Harleen has since played over 35 ODIs and 25 T20Is, scoring more than 1,000 international runs, including a maiden ODI century (115 off 103) in 2024. Known for her composure under pressure and athleticism in the field, she’s become a reliable top-order option and one of India’s most promising all-round performers.
Sneh Rana
Sneh Rana, born on 18 February 1994 in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, is a resilient all-rounder for the Indian women’s cricket team. She bowls right-arm off-break and bats right-handed — a combination that makes her a valuable contributor in multiple facets. Making her international debut in 2014, her journey hasn’t been straightforward — a knee injury in 2016 sidelined her for several years, and yet she battled back to earn a spot in India’s Test squad in 2021. On her Test debut, she scored an unbeaten 80 and took key wickets to help India save a match. Recently, she played a starring role in India’s ODI tri-series win in Sri Lanka in 2025 by claiming 15 wickets in five matches and earning the Player of the Series title. With her grit, adaptability and senior presence, Sneh Rana has become someone the team can rely on in pressure situations.
Amanjot Bhupinder Kaur
Amanjot Kaur, born on 25 August 2000, is a dynamic all-rounder for the Indian women’s cricket team. Her international debut came in 2023 when she featured in a T20I series against South Africa women’s cricket team. She bats right-handed and bowls right-arm medium fast, offering India valuable depth both with the bat and with the ball. One of her breakout moments came in the T20 series versus England women’s cricket team in 2025 where she scored an unbeaten 63 off 40 balls and also contributed with the ball — a performance that confirmed her status as a genuine all-rounder. At just 25, Amanjot Kaur is rapidly becoming one of India’s most promising young talents, someone who the team turns to in clutch moments.
Nallapureddy Shree Charani
Nallapureddy Shree Charani, born on August 4, 2004, in Andhra Pradesh, is one of India’s most exciting young spin-bowling all-rounders. A left-handed batter and slow left-arm orthodox bowler, she made her international debut in April 2025 against Sri Lanka and instantly impressed with her calmness and control. In her T20I debut vs England (June 2025), Charani announced herself with a stunning spell of 4 for 12, showcasing her ability to turn matches with the ball. Representing Andhra in domestic cricket and the Delhi Capitals in the WPL, she’s already being hailed as India’s next big spin talent — a composed performer with both bat and ball and the temperament to thrive under pressure.
Radha Prakash Yadav
Radha Prakash Yadav is a crafty left-arm orthodox spinner from Mumbai, born on 21 April 2000, who made her international debut for India women’s cricket team in February 2018 in a T20I against South Africa. She quickly earned attention for her smart turn, accuracy and sharp fielding, becoming one of India’s key spin options in the shorter formats. In the April-May 2024 T20I series in Bangladesh, she was India’s leading wicket-taker (10 scalps) and was named Player of the Series. At just 25 years of age, her mix of experience, wicket-taking ability and strong domestic/franchise performances (including for Delhi Capitals Women in the WPL) mean she remains a vital asset for India’s bowling plans in pressure matches.
Arundhati Reddy
Arundhati Reddy, born on April 10, 1997, from Hyderabad (Telangana), is a right-handed batter and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who plays for India’s women’s cricket team. She made her T20I debut in September 2018 against Sri Lanka. Known for her ability to swing the new ball and bowl with energy, Arundhati has been part of multiple major tournaments and has also featured for the Delhi Capitals Women in the Women’s Premier League since 2023. She often provides India with balance through her pace bowling and has been trusted in knockout-pressure situations—showing resilience after being out of the side and making a comeback through strong WPL performances.
Kranti Gaud
Kranti Gaud, born on 11 August 2003 is a right-handed batter and right-arm medium-fast bowler from Madhya Pradesh who made her India debut in 2025. She first broke through domestically with 17 wickets in the 2024 Senior Women’s One Day Cup, including a 4/25 in the final. In just her fourth ODI, she picked up a five-for (6/52) against England, becoming the youngest Indian woman to take a five‐wicket haul in ODIs. She was picked by the UP Warriorz in the 2025 WPL and is widely viewed as one of India’s emerging pace threats.
Indian Women Cricket Team Ready to Write History
As we are writing, Indian women cricket team is gearing up for a clash against South Africa in 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup final. Here is wishing both the teams, the best of luck! May the best team win!
