Cricket is a religion in India. However, the limelight has been on the men's game from the start. Women's cricket never got the limelight that it deserved. Although, with BCCI trying to promote women's cricket, it is high time we track young talents from districts and villages to find the best in India. The Cricket Association of Bengal has just done that. The newly announced Byju's Bengal Women's T20 Blast will give the limelight to all the unknown faces of female cricket in Bengal. The tournament is scheduled to start on the 7th of February, 2022.

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The Cricket Association of Bengal has already arranged two seasons of the Bengal T20 Challenge for the men's cricketers. Now, they have given a chance to the girls from Bengal to showcase their talent on the bigger stage. The tournament will have six teams from the Kolkata Maidan. East Bengal, Kalighat, Aryan, Mohammedan Sporting, Town Club and Rajasthan Club are the teams to participate in the tournament. 90 players were drafted in six teams on Wednesday.

CAB President Avishek Dalmiya's take on the tournament

CAB President Avishek Dalmiya delivered the inaugural speech. Along with him CAB Jt secy Debabrata Das, Tour, Fixture & Technical committee chairman Subhankar Ghosh Dastidar, Players' benevolent and benefit fund committee chairman Santanu Mitra, Women's National selector Mithu Mukherjee, Women's cricket committee chairman Shyama Dey (Shaw), Women's Selection Committee chairman Chandana Mukherjee and BCCI match referee Moumita Chakraborty were present on the dias.

"We are very happy to resume our local tournaments, which were stalled because of the recent Covid19 surge. We have been contemplating over the last few years that club cricket in the women's segment must begin. We tried to start this tournament last season but due to Covid we had to cancel at the last moment. We are extremely happy to start the tournament this year. It's not going to be a one-off tournament and we will be working keenly to make it better with each passing year.

CAB President Avishek Dalmiya via CAB Media

Read Also: Indian Women's cricket: Most Runs in Test Cricket

Md. Nasim, a representative from Mohammedan Sporting Club said, "This is a great initiative by the CAB. The girls from various parts of Bengal will get a chance to showcase their game. This will strengthen the Bengal cricket as well." Meanwhile, they are also planning to give extra incentives to players if they do well in the tournament. "Our secretary, Mr Deepak Kumar Singh has already given his words to provide extra incentives to all the players if we do well in the tournament", he added.

Byju's Bengal Women's T20 Blast will also see nearly half of the girls from outside Kolkata. Therefore, unseen talents from the outskirts of Bengal will have the spotlight on them for the first time. Abhijit Chaudhuri, head coach of Nadia District Women's Cricket team said, "We are thankful to CAB for taking such an initiative. The girls from our district have done very well in the last few years. This tournament will help young girls to knock the doors of the Bengal team if they do well."

Read Also: Smriti Mandhana: 'It was amazing to watch our bowlers dominate Australia'

Jhumia Khatun, a Senior Women's cricketer from Bengal said, "Earlier we used to get very less matches to prepare for the bigger stages. This will give us to matches to prepare for the upcoming T20 Board matches." Meanwhile, Jhumia believes that with a great combination of juniors and senior cricketers in the team, they have a great chance to perform well in the tournament. "I will be focusing on playing till the last ball of the match as a batter to ensure a win for my team," she added. Jhumia will be playing for Aryan Club in the tournament.

Just like the major leagues in the world, Byju's Bengal Women's T20 Blast will give a chance to young players to share the dressing room with bigger guns of cricket. Barnali Tamuli, a pacer who will don the East Bengal jersey thinks the same as well. "Sharing the dressing room with the seniors like Rumeli Dhar is something I am looking for." Moreover, she is also prepared to learn the art of swing from veteran all-rounder of Bengal Cricket. "None have a better wrist position than Rumeli di. I am very excited to learn from her", she added.

Read Also: Ashleigh Barty: How did cricket contribute to her win in the Australian Open 2022?

Meanwhile, Anamika Das drafted in Town Club as a wicket-keeper batter hopes to knock the doors of U25 team via this tournament. "I know I am the second wicket-keeper in the squad. However, I am hopeful I will have a chance to prove myself as a wicket-keeper batter in these 10 matches." Town Club also have senior Bengal wicket-keeper Parna Paul in the team as well. "I want to add value to my team and looking forward to contribute as much as possible," Anamika shared over a phone call to Sportz Point.

However, the eyes will be on the players who has not been in any Bengal squad recently. Sonali Mondal, a left-handed batter who stays nearly 100km away from Kolkata, hopes this tournament can change her career. "This is a great opportunity for upcoming players like us. I want to learn and grow as much as possible from this tournament." Sonali will be part of Rajasthan team which will be led by young sensation Dhara Gujjar.

Byju's Bengal Women's T20 Blast: Drafted players

The most interesting part of the Byju's Bengal Women's T20 Blast is that every team has a female coach and a female mentor in every squad. This also suggest who much strength CAB has in their structure of Women's Cricket.

All the matches of the Byju's Bengal Women's T20 Blast will be telecasted live on Fan Code App. All the matches will be played at Bengal Cricket Ground, Kalyani.

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The ICC Women's World Cup 2025 is to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka and a total of 8 teams are to participate in it. But even before the tournament starts, a big change has been made in its schedule.

After the stampede in Bengaluru, the ICC has now decided to shift the matches to be held at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to the ground in Navi Mumbai, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Friday.

Also Read: ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: Indian squad announced, Shefali Verma not in the team

Matches cancelled in Bengaluru due to RCB stampede case

After 17 years of long wait, RCB team finally won the IPL 2025 title. After this, RCB players gathered at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to celebrate the victory. There was a huge crowd to see them and after this many fans lost their lives due to a stampede.

Then the Karnataka government formed a commission, which declared the Bengaluru ground unsafe for big events. Now after this, the ICC has decided not to hold matches on the Bengaluru ground.

Matches will be held at Navi Mumbai ground

The match between India and Sri Lanka was to be held on 30 September at Bengaluru ground, which will now be played at Guwahati ground. The match between England and South Africa was also scheduled to be held on 3 October, which will now be held in Guwahati. The match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on 20 October was to be played at Colombo ground, which will now be played at Navi Mumbai ground. 

On the other hand, Navi Mumbai has got two more matches to be played in Bengaluru. These include India vs New Zealand (23 October) and India vs Bangladesh (26 October). There is also a strong possibility that the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final will be held either in Navi Mumbai or Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Also Read: India Cricket team's performance in every ICC Women's World Cup

Jay Shah expressed satisfaction about the new venue

"Navi Mumbai has emerged as a genuine home for women’s cricket in recent years. The support it has received during international fixtures and the Women’s Premier League has been remarkable, creating an atmosphere that elevates the players and inspires fans. I am certain that the same energy will define the big matches of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup as it returns to India after 12 years," Jay Shah said in an ICC release.

“We stand at a pivotal moment in the journey of the women’s game. This World Cup has the potential to be remembered as one of those defining milestones that shaped the sport’s future, not only in India but across the cricketing world.

“While unforeseen circumstances required us to adjust the schedule and replace a venue, we are pleased to now have a line-up of five world-class venues that will showcase the very best of the women’s game. The stage is set, and I am confident this tournament will capture imaginations and inspire a new generation of fans.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the Indian women's cricket team for the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. This tournament will be held in October and a list of 15 players has been released for this on Tuesday.

#TeamIndia squad for ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025⬇️

Harmanpreet Kaur (Capt), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (WK), Kranti Gaud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani,…

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) August 19, 2025

Also Read: India Cricket team's performance in every ICC Women's World Cup

Harmanpreet to lead the team

The responsibility of team selection was of the National Selection Committee, which is headed by former Indian cricketer Ajit Agarkar. He has handed over the command of the team to experienced all-rounder Harmanpreet Kaur.

At the same time, left-handed opener Smriti Mandhana has been appointed as the vice-captain. Both the players have been the backbone of the Indian women's team for the last several years and they are expected to perform well in this tournament as well.

No Shafali Verma in the squad

Shafali Verma has been left out despite the head coach, Amol Majumdar, backing her after the England series. Shafali was part of the India A squad on the recently concluded Australia tour, but she couldn't impress much in six white-ball matches that included three One-Day games too. As for the squad, the Indian team has been picked on the expected lines with not much surprise in the offing.

Some new faces got the chance 

BCCI has selected a balanced team in which along with the experienced players, some new faces have also got a chance. In which players like Pratika Rawal, Sree Charani and Kranti Gaud will get a chance to prove themselves on a big stage like the World Cup for the first time. The selectors have made it clear that these young players have been selected on the basis of their domestic performance.

Strong bowling unit

The role of all-rounders will be important in the team. Players like Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana have the ability to contribute with both bat and ball. Renuka Singh and Arundhati Reddy will lead the fast bowling attack. Radha Yadav and Sneh Rana will strengthen the spin department.

Players to take part in a special training camp

According to the team management, the players will take part in a special training camp before the World Cup, in which special attention will be paid to fitness, strategy and match simulation. The goal is that the team should enter the field fully prepared and become a strong contender to win the title.

Also Read: ICC Women's World Cup Past Winners & Most Successful Teams

ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: India Squad

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud.

The 13th edition of the ICC Women's ODI Cricket World Cup will begin on September 30 with co-hosts India and Sri Lanka facing off in the opening match of the tournament at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Defending champions Australia are the most successful team in the history of the Women’s World Cup having won it seven times. England have won it five times and New Zealand once.

In this article, we will have a look at the top 10 batters with most runs in ICC Women's World Cup.

Also Read: ICC Women's World Cup Past Winners & Most Successful Teams

Most Runs in ICC Women's World Cup

10. Claire Taylor | 856 runs

Claire Taylor played 19 World Cup matches and batted in 18 innings, scoring 856 runs at an impressive average of 61.14 and a strike rate of 77.11. She hit three centuries in World Cups, and her highest score of 137 not out came in a tough match against Australia, where she stood firm till the end.

She began her World Cup journey with quiet performances but quickly grew into a powerful presence in the team. In the 2009 ODI World Cup, she was at her very best. She scored 324 runs in the tournament, including one century and two fifties, and was named Player of the Tournament.

9. Harmanpreet Kaur | 876 runs

Harmanpreet Kaur has been one of the biggest match-winners for India in ODI World Cups. She has played 26 World cup matches and scored 876 runs in 22 innings with a strong average of 51.52 and a strike rate of 94.39. Her three centuries include one of the most iconic knocks in women’s cricket. Her top score of 171 not out against Australia in the 2017 semi-final is remembered as a turning point for Indian women’s cricket.

Harmanpreet began her World Cup journey in 2009, but it was in 2013 that she truly showed her talent with a fighting century against England. In 2017, her unbeaten 171 became a historic moment, making her a household name in India. That innings not only helped India reach the final but also brought women’s cricket into the spotlight.

8. Meg Lanning | 948 runs

Meg Lanning has been one of the most dependable players in the history of the ODI World Cup. She has played 22 matches and batted in all of them, scoring 948 runs at a solid average of 52.66 and a strike rate of 88.68. She has scored three centuries in ODI World Cups, with her highest score being 152 not out.

Lanning became the youngest Australian to score an international century at the age of 18. In the 2013 ODI World Cup, she was one of Australia’s leading run scorers and continued to lead from the front in future tournaments.

7. Karen Rolton | 974 runs

Karen Rolton, in her ODI World Cup career, played 28 matches and batted in 22 innings, scoring a total of 974 runs. Her batting average of 74.92 is among the best in the tournament’s history. With a strong strike rate of 85.58, she often dominated bowling attacks and helped Australia build or chase totals with ease.

Rolton scored three centuries in the ODI World Cups. Her highest score was an unbeaten 154. One of her most memorable performances came in the 2005 World Cup final, where she scored a brilliant hundred and was named Player of the Match, helping Australia lift the title.

6. Belinda Clark | 1151 runs

Belinda Clark was one of Australia’s finest players in ODI history. She played 29 matches in the Women’s World Cup and scored 1151 runs at a brilliant average of 60.57 and a strike rate of 76.77. Clark scored one century in the ODI World Cups, and that was a record-breaking 229 not out against Denmark in 1997. This knock remains one of the highest individual scores in women’s ODI history. 

In 1997, she led Australia to the World Cup title, and once again, in 2005, she guided her team to another championship win without losing a single game.

Also Read: Indian batters to score an international ton in all formats: Smriti Mandhana joins an elite list

5. Suzie Bates | 1179 runs

Suzie Bates made her international cricket debut in 2006. Since then, she has become one of New Zealand’s most reliable and attacking ODI batters. 

In the ODI World Cup, Bates has played 27 matches, scoring a total of 1179 runs at an impressive average of 56.14 and a strike rate of 84.82. She has registered four centuries, with her highest score being a breathtaking 168 off just 105 balls against Pakistan.

In the 2013 World Cup, Suzie Bates was named Player of the Tournament for her outstanding performance. She received the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award in the same year.

4. Charlotte Edwards | 1231 runs

Charlotte Edwards was one of the most successful captains in England’s ODIs. In total, Edwards played 30 ODI World Cup matches, where she scored 1231 runs at an incredible average of 53.52. She maintained a strong strike rate of 73.62 and registered four centuries, with her highest score being the unforgettable 173.

Edwards made her ODI debut at the age of 16. In 1997, she stunned the world by scoring 173* against Ireland during a World Cup match, a record-breaking innings that announced her arrival on the world stage.

As a captain, she inspired her team with confidence and focus. Her leadership helped England win the 2009 World Cup, and she remained a key figure in World Cup campaigns throughout her career.

3. Janette Brittin | 1299 runs

Janette Ann Brittin was one of the most dependable and consistent batters in the history of women’s ODI cricket. When it comes to ODI World Cups, Janette’s performance was unmatched. She played 36 World Cup matches, scoring 1299 runs at an excellent average of 43.3, with a strike rate of 60.4. She remains one of the top performers in the tournament’s history, with 4 World Cup centuries, including a best of 138*.

Overall 63 ODI matches, Brittin scored 2121 runs with a solid average of 42.42.

2. Mithali Raj | 1321 runs

Mithali Raj is one of the most iconic players in Women’s One Day Internationals. In the ODI World Cups, Mithali played in 38 matches with 1321 runs at a brilliant average of 47.17 and a strike rate of 67.67. With two centuries, including a top score of 109 and 11 match-winning fifties. 

Mithali made her ODI debut at the young age of 16. She immediately impressed everyone in her first ODI with 114*. Over the years, she became the leading run-scorer in women’s ODIs with 7805 runs. She is the first player to cross the mark of 6000 runs in ODI history. 

Notably, Mithali is the only Indian captain (male or female) to have led India into two ODI World Cup finals, in 2005 and again in 2017. During the 2017 World Cup, she scored 409 runs, finishing as India’s top scorer and the second-highest overall in the tournament.

Also Read: ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Full Schedule announced; India to face Pakistan on October 5

1. Debbie Hockley | 1501 runs

Debbie Hockley is one of the most respected names in women’s cricket history. She participated in 45 World Cup matches, scoring 1501 runs at an impressive average of 42.88 and a strike rate of 57.16. She hit two centuries, with her highest score being an unbeaten 100.* She became the first woman to score over 1500 runs and appear in more than 40 World Cup matches, which is another record in women’s World Cup history. 

Hockley also represented New Zealand in 118 ODIs, where she scored 4064 runs and became the first woman ever to cross the 4000-run mark in this format.

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) is all set to celebrate the remarkable achievements of its cricketers as it announced the awardees for the 2024-25 season. The awards ceremony will recognise exceptional talent across various categories, spanning senior men’s, senior women’s, and junior levels, including under-23, under-19, under-16, under-15, and club league categories. 

When is the C.A.B. Award Ceremony?

As per multiple reports, the C.A.B. Award Ceremony for the 2024-25 season will take place on 30 August 2025 at the Dhana Dhanya Auditorium in Kolkata.

Who are the winners?

In the senior men’s category, Sudip Gharami was named Cricketer of the Year, while Shahbaz Ahmed and Sayan Ghosh shared the Gentleman Cricketer and Best Fast Bowler awards, respectively. This is the second time Gharami will recieve the Cricketer of the Year Award.

Read Also: Bengal Players in IPL 2025 – Full List & Performance

Sudip Chatterjee earned the Highest Run Getter for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, and Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal will be honoured as the Highest Wicket Taker in the same tournament.

Read Also: Exclusive: 'Honoured' Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal can't wait to bowl alongside Indian pacers in Duleep Trophy 2025

The senior women’s category saw Tanusree Sarkar and Dhara Gujjar clinching the Highest Run Getter awards in the T-20 and One Day Tournaments, respectively, with Saika Ishaque recognised as the Highest Wicket Taker in the T-20 Tournament. Tanusree also won the Best Senior Women's Cricketer of the Year Award.

Both Tanusree and Dhara are with the India-A team in Australia at the moment.

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Among the junior categories, Rahul Prasad dominated the under-23 men’s section, securing multiple awards, including Best Cricketer and Highest Wicket Taker.

Read Also: From delivering online food to getting selected for India U-19 camp, Rahul Prasad's journey is an inspiring one

Dyuti Paul and Sushmita Ganguly shone in the under-23 women’s category, with Paul named Best Women's U-23 Cricketer and Ganguly as the Highest Wicket-taker for Bengal in Women's Under-23 One Day Tournament.

Read Also: Bengal Cricket: 7 U-19 cricketers from Bengal who can play for India in future

In the under-19 category, Vishal Bhati emerged as a key figure, winning Best Cricketer and Highest Wicket Taker, while Ipshita Mondal led the under-19 women’s section with the Highest Run Getter awards.

Sachin Yadav and Sandipta Patra were standout performers in the under-16 and under-15 categories, respectively, with Yadav named Best Bowler and Patra the Highest Run Getter.

The club league category will see Sayan Paul being honoured as the Best Under-19 Cricketer, rounding off a comprehensive recognition of talent across all levels. 

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Cricket Association of Bengal Award Winners 2024-2025

Senior Men's

Senior Women's

Men's Under-23

Women's Under-23

Men's Under-19

Women's Under-19

Men's Under-16

Women's Under-15

Men's Under-19 Club League

Indian Women's Cricket team has seen remarkable growth in recent years, with two runners-up positions at the ODI World Cup to their credit. The new age Indian players like Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma are taking Indian women's cricket to the next level with Harmanpreet Kaur leading the team calmly. However, India are yet to win the Women’s Cricket World Cup despite reaching the final twice. 

Also Read: ICC Women's World Cup Past Winners & Most Successful Teams

The ICC Women's World Cup 2025 will begin on September 30 with co-hosts India and Sri Lanka facing off in the opening match of the tournament at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. So, before start of the tournament, let take a look at India women's team's performance in every ICC Women's World Cup.

ICC Women's World Cup: India's Performance So Far

India Women Cricket Team journey in the ODI World Cup began in 1978. They did not participate in the first edition in 1973 before playing in the second edition. India crashed out at the group stage in 1978 as well as 1982 and did not participate in 1988.

In the 1993 edition, India made a group stage exit once again before finally progressing to the semifinal in 1997 when they played the tournament on home soil. India made it to the semifinal in 2000 also.

In 2005, India Women Cricket Team qualified for the final of the World Cup for the first time but ended up losing the title-decider. Their campaign ended at the Super 6s stage in 2009 before they crashed out at the group stage in 2013.

Four years later, India qualified for the final once again but lost the match against England. In 2022, India made a group stage exit.

Also Read: Indian Cricket Team's upcoming schedule (men and women)