Seven out of seven wins. Invincible Pune Warriors defeated all the odds to come out victorious in the Women's Maharashtra Premier League 2025. 

While other franchises had big names, such as Smriti Mandhana, Tejal Hasabnis, and Kiran Navgire, among many other stars of the women's game, Pune Warriors had a clear plan and strategy. 

With only prominent names in Anuja Patil and Shweta Mane, the Pune Warriors Women's team depended on clear thoughts, executions and camaraderie to win the league. Team analyst Gaanesh Tyagi shared all the secrets in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point.

Gaanesh is a high performance analyst from Mumbai, who has worked for more than 10 T20 franchise teams. He was also the analyst of the Mumbai Cricket team, which won their first ever Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament in 2023.

The team combination: All-rounders, effectiveness and youth

Even before stepping onto the field to win the tournament, teams must first succeed in a different battle during the draft or auction. This is where many teams secure half of their victory. Women’s cricket has different demands than men’s cricket, and in T20 cricket, the need for strong all-rounders reaches its peak. 

With captain Anuja Patil being the perfect all-rounder for the team, the coaching staff opted for additional all-rounders to effectively manage the middle overs. 

"The entire coaching staff and captain Anuja Patil were involved in building the team. We aimed to have more all-rounders while also featuring skilled individuals for every situation in the game,” Gaanesh explained to Sportz Point. 

Read Also: In a first, 10 UAE batters retire out in ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025

The roadmap and planning

During their initial meeting with the players, captain Anuja and the coaching staff discussed a comprehensive plan for winning the tournament. This provided every player with a clear roadmap and clarity on how they needed to prepare for each aspect of the game.

"In that first meeting, we talked about how we should be winning the tournament. Each player knew their role within the team, which helped provide a clear roadmap for everyone,” Gaanesh added.

Read Also: Exclusive: Bowls like Malinga, once doubted by her family, Nadia's Sonali Das is set for Bengal Pro T20 League dreams after 8-wicket haul in School Cricket

"Bowlers win you tournaments"

This phrase has become quite popular in world cricket. Even in the Indian Premier League, the team with the superior bowling combination often performs better. Analysts play a crucial role here by offering insights on optimal lengths, lines, speeds, and determining who should bowl at various stages of the game.

For Pune Warriors, prior to each match, analysts would provide each bowler with a specific plan to tackle all potential batters they might face.

"In women’s cricket, understanding lengths is crucial. Knowing what length to bowl against which batter is key. We had strategies for each opponent.

"So, it was all about execution on the field, which our bowlers accomplished successfully. That’s why we had two bowlers, Chinmayee Bhorpale (the Purple Cap winner) and Anuja Patil, in the top five highest wicket-takers list," Gaanesh stated. 

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Anuja Patil- the Boss Lady

When you have a young and relatively inexperienced team, it’s essential to have someone who can guide each player. Just as the Rajasthan Royals had Shane Warne, Pune Warriors had Anuja Patil. 

Anuja, who has played 50 T20Is for the Indian national team, possesses the knowledge necessary to win cricket matches. With her leadership, every young player learned how to approach each match to achieve victory.

"We affectionately called her the 'Boss Lady.'

The entire team respected and followed her decisions. In tournaments like this, a clear direction is crucial, and Anuja provided the guidance we needed with her experience."

Read Also: Bengal Women's Cricket Exclusive: Two out of two finals, record chase against Haryana, Jhulan Goswami, WPL and more

The Mix of Youth and Experience

Balancing the mix of youth and experience in team building can be challenging. Some players on the squad were born after Anuja and Shweta Mane began their cricket careers.

There was a noticeable gap in age and experience, so the team needed to blend these elements effectively to perform at their best.

Both Anuja and Mane acted as both friends and firm mentors, fostering a harmonious environment that brought out the best in young players like 17-year-old Akshaya Jadhav, 16-year-old Suhani Kahandal, and U-23 player Khushi Mulla, who ended up being the fourth-highest run-scorer of the tournament.

"Youth at the top and experince in the middle"

Although the powerplay and death overs seem to be entertaining, it is the middle overs that decide the winner in a T20 game. Be it with the bat or ball, the 7-15 overs of a T20I game are the most crucial overs.

That is why Pune Warriors had the plan of having the most experienced players playing the middle order, be it with the bat or ball. 

That even allowed youngsters like Khushi Mulla, Suhani Kahandal and Akshaya Jadhav to have the freedom to enjoy the game. 

"The middle overs control the outcome of the game. We even saw Smriti Mandhana batting in the middle order for Ratnagiri Jets. So, from the start of the tournament, we wanted to have experince in the middle overs and youth at the top," Gaanesh explained. 

"Discipline, calmness and execution"

Winning all seven of your games is a significant challenge, and in T20 cricket, it’s nearly impossible to maintain that momentum throughout.

However, according to Gaanesh, if the team maintains discipline, calmness, and focuses on execution, the chances of not losing become greater.

He recounted the last over of the final match against Solapur Smashers: “We needed to defend 9 from 6 and it became 4 from 4. But we kept calm under pressure and executed well to win the title.”

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What's next?

Whenever a team without many superstars win any tournament, there comes a question of whether they will be able to continue that in the next season. We have seen it with the Rajasthan Royals in the past as well.

Since winning the inaugural season, they have not been able to win any trophies. What's the secret sauce to keep winning? 

"Process," Gaanesh said. 

He feels all the youngsters who got a bit of fame and name from this season need to aim for bigger goals and achievements. This is how they will be able to keep them ready for next season. Most importantly, they need to focus on the process which has given them results.

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.

Read Also: Bengal Women's Cricket Exclusive: Two out of two finals, record chase against Haryana, Jhulan Goswami, WPL and more

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. 

Read Also: Women's Cricket Exclusive: Age 14, 5 feet 8 inches tall, bowls left-arm wrist spin; Debjani Das is all set to be Bengal's next cricketing superstar

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)

The ICC Women's World Cup 2025 is scheduled to be hosted by India in September-October. This will be the 13th edition of the tournament. India has reached the final of the Women's ODI Cricket World Cup twice, but has never won it.

Australia Women’s Team lift the previous edition of the ICC World Cup at the Christchurch Cricket Stadium in New Zealand. They defeated the England team with 71 runs.

Let's have a look at the ICC Women's World Cup past winners and most successful teams.

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

ICC Women's World Cup | First Edition Winner

The women's cricket world cup was held 2 years before the first men's world cup. In 1973, the tournament was first hosted with 7 teams participating in the tournament. The tournament was hosted by England. England became the champion by defeating Australia in the 60-over tournament.

India was not a part of it. The Indian women's cricket team made its debut in the Women's Cricket World Cup in 1978, which was hosted by India.

England scored a mammoth total of 279/3 in 60 overs with Enid Bakewell scoring 118 and captain Rachael Heyhoe Flint contributing 64. Australia struggled to chase the target and scored 187/9. Bakewell became the highest run scorer in the tournament. She scored 264 runs. Rosalind Heggs of England took the most wickets with 12.

2022 Women's World Cup Winner

Australia beat England by 71 runs to lift the ICC Women's World Cup 2022 trophy. This is the seventh World Cup title for Australia women. The Meg Lanning-led side had put up 356 runs on the scoreboard for the loss of 5 wickets while batting first and managed to get England all out for 285 runs despite Natalie Sciver's brave attempts to keep her side still in the game.

ICC Women's World Cup | Most Successful Teams

Australia is the most successful women's cricket team with seven titles. Australia has dominated women’s cricket like no other team, winning the most ICC trophies in history. With a staggering 7 titles in the Women’s ODI World Cup, the Australian Women’s team has set the benchmark for excellence on the global stage. 

Their closest competitor, England, has managed to secure four World Cups, a distant second that underscores Australia’s dominance.

• Australia (7 times): 1978, 1982, 1989, 1998, 2005, 2013, 2022
• England (4 times): 1973, 1993, 2009, 2017
• New Zealand (1 time): 2000

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

ICC Women's World Cup | Past Winners

The men’s and women’s Indian cricket teams will compete in multiple series at home and away, including Asia Cup and Women's ODI World Cup in the incoming days.

Let's have a look at Indian Cricket Team's upcoming schedule.

Also Read: ENG vs IND: Every record Shubman Gill broke in test series

No more cricket in August

After the series between India and England, with India's tour of Bangladesh postponed till 2026, as per the current situation, the Indian team will not be able to play any more cricket in August.

The next tournament for the Indian Men's Cricket team will be the 2025 Asia Cup, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In Test cricket, India will next be seen playing two-match home series against West Indies and South Africa.

Between the two Test series, the team will tour Australia for ODI and T20I series. India will also play home series in both white-ball formats against South Africa and New Zealand before their T20 World Cup.

Women's team try to claim their maiden ICC trophy

The Indian women’s cricket team started its year with a three-match ODI series at home against Ireland in January's second week. The Women’s Premier League (WPL) was played in February-March.

The ICC Women’s ODI World Cup will be hosted in India and Sri Lanka. The tournament starts from September 30 with the final scheduled for November 2. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side will have the perfect stage to claim their maiden ICC trophy. The team has finished as the runners-up twice before in the ODI World Cup.

Also Read: Watch: Captain Harmanpreet Kaur shares her POTM award with the youngster after historic ODI series win against England

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

Here’s a look at Indian Cricket Team's upcoming schedule.

Indian Men’s Cricket Team

Indian Women's Cricket Team