Chakdaha & Vivekananda Park could just be a contrasting study of demographics. The latter – with exquisitely tended gardens & high stone walls topped with barbed wires – is home to the elite class of Kolkata. More than 75 km away nestled in Nadia district is Chakdaha, a small town whose claim to fame is the district headquarters, Krishnanagar, and its famous clay idols. This study of contrasts however has a thread linking it to the finest cricketers Bengal & India have ever seen – Jhulan Goswami.

The start: 1997 Women's World Cup & Swapan Sadhu

Jhulan's desire to make a career out of playing cricket after being a ball girl in the 1997 World Cup finals is stuff dreams are made up of. The commute from Chakdaha to Vivekananda Park via a local train is a long and dreary journey of more than 2 hours. In addition to that, there was a strict reporting time of 7:30 am set by her coach - Swapan Sadhu.

Read Also: 'Last two years, I thought every series as my last one' – Jhulan Goswami on how she decided to sign off in England

Swapan Sadhu should probably be credited for honing the skills of the finest pacer Bengal has known. It was under his watchful eyes that Jhulan perfected her fast bowling skills. Sadhu, known to be a strict disciplinarian when it came to coaching, was in fact the person who had been instrumental in convincing Goswami's parents to allow her to play cricket. Notably, he conducted the only female cricket academy in South Kolkata during the late 1990s, remarkable in the age when women's cricket was hardly known among the masses.

Jhulan Goswami: The first-ever Indian to win ICC Women's Cricketer of the year

There is so much to write about Jhulan Goswami that words cannot do justice to. Shall I begin with the fan girl being proud of the 2007 ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year award or in 2008 when I told everyone who cared to listen to me that the women who donned the No 1 and No 2 positions in the ICC women bowling rankings had a Bengal connect. No 1 – Jhulan Goswami (India, proud Bengali) & No 2 – Isa Guha (born in England to Bengali parents).

Read Also: Every Record made by Jhulan Goswami

Or shall we go to what was the tournament that ushered in a new era for women's cricket? The semi-final of the 2017 Women's World Cup between India and Australia & the absolute ripper that dismissed a flabbergasted Meg Lanning – easily the best batter in the world. The runs were on the board, but if any team could chase down that total of 281, it was Australia. And Meg Lanning was a vital cog in that Australian wheel. The ball which dismissed Lanning was the ball of the tournament. Words cannot do justice to the delivery. It was a work of art. Pitching on the middle stump and straightening enough to hit the off stump, dismissing the best batter in the world.

Jhulan, the icon, role model and inspiration

In the cricketing fraternity, Jhulan Goswami will be remembered as an icon, role model and woman whose work ethic an emerging fast bowler should replicate. But what stood out for me was the insatiable desire to perform, despite the unsurmountable odds. In an interview to a Bengali daily, she highlighted how ignorant she was about sports science and diets & that the modification of her diet enabled her to extend her career. If you ever asked her whether she regretted having to travel that 4 plus hours in crowded suburban trains, she will in turn tell you how those days shaped her as a human and made her mentally tough to withstand challenges, both on and off the field.

Bengal's love affair with sports can be seen in the sheer number of clubs which outline the Maidan, and the fact that a regular evening in a "para" will involve discussions around cricket and football. However, fast bowling was never a forte for the easy-going Bengali. It took a girl from a small town of Bengal, who travelled in local trains to make the world sit up and take notice and eke her name into the annals of cricketing folklore.

Read Also: Cricket Association of Bengal arranges live screening of Jhulan Goswami's farewell match at Inox Forum

Such is the appeal she carries that probably it will be the first time that an upscale multiplex will screen the farewell match for a woman cricketer. For those interested - The Cricket Association of Bengal will be screening the match at #InoxForum on Elgin Road on 24th September, Saturday from 2.30 pm onwards.

Adios, Jhulan Goswami. Thank you for showing a billion small-town girls that the world can be your oyster.

The fourth season of the Women's Premier League (WPL) is set to begin with an auction in Delhi on November 27. The full schedule for the upcoming season will be released immediately following the auction. It is confirmed that the entire tournament will be played in January 2026. Vadodara and Navi Mumbai could be the potential host cities for this mega event.

Also Read: WPL 2026 Auction Details: 277 players to enter auction, 73 slots vacant

The tournament's first mega auction

In the inaugural season in 2023, RCB Women acquired Smriti Mandhana for a whopping ₹3.40 crore (340 million rupees). Nat Sciver-Brunt, who plays for MI Women, was also purchased for ₹3.20 crore (320 million rupees). The tournament's first mega auction will take place in 2026. It will be interesting to see if any player sells for a higher price than RCB captain Smriti Mandhana. Therefore, it's important to know when and what time the WPL 2026 auction will be live streamed.

Auction rules

Each team will be allowed to build a squad of up to 18 players. In all, 73 slots - including 23 overseas spots - are available to be filled across the five teams. For the first time, the WPL auction rules allow the franchises the use up to five Right to Match (RTM) options, depending on the number of retentions, to buy back a player who was part of their squad in 2025.

Teams that retained fewer players will have more RTM options and a larger purse going into the mega auction. All teams will have a combined purse of INR 41.1 crore to spend at the auction.

Remaining purse for each team

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

When will the WPL 2026 auction start?

The WPL 2026 auction will take place on Thursday, November 27.

How many teams will participate in the WPL 2026 auction?

In just three seasons, the WPL has transformed into one of the biggest women’s T20 leagues globally, now valued higher than Pakistan’s PSL. Five teams - Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women, Mumbai Indians Women, Delhi Capitals Women, UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants Women will participate in the WPL 2026 auction.

What time will the WPL 2026 auction start?

The WPL 2026 auction will begin at 3:30 PM IST.

Which TV channels will broadcast the WPL 2026 auction live in India?

Indian fans will be able to watch the WPL 2026 auction live on TV on Star Sports Network channels.

How to watch live-streaming of the WPL 2026 auction in India?

Live-streaming of the WPL 2026 auction will be available on the JioHotstar app and its official website.

The official list of players for the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 auction has been released. A record 277 players will be part of the auction, with just 73 available slots. The auction will be held on November 27 in New Delhi and will start at 3.30 pm.

The number of players participating in the WPL 2026 auction has almost doubled compared to last season, which clearly shows that the Women's Premier League is becoming increasingly popular and has become a centre of attraction for women cricketers from all over the world.

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

Balance of Indian and foreign players

This time, there are 194 Indian players in the WPL 2026 auction list, including 52 capped players and 142 uncapped players. Capped players are those who have played international matches, and uncapped players are those who have not yet made their international debut. They will be competing for the 50 Indian slots available for teams. The overseas players section also includes some of the best cricketers. 

A total of 83 foreign players are also on the list, including 66 capped players and 17 uncapped players. There are 23 slots available for them.

🚨 NEWS 🚨#TATAWPL 2026 Player Auction List Announced.

The #TATAWPLAuction 2026 list has been announced, with a total of 277 players vying for 73 available slots. The auction will take place in New Delhi on 27th November at 3:30 PM IST.

Details 🔽https://t.co/1hTLRHqzEL

— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) November 21, 2025

Base Price Bracket: Who will get the highest bid?

The base price is also in the news this time. The base prices are set at ₹30 lakh, ₹40 lakh, and ₹50 lakh. There are 88 players who have registered at the base price of ₹30 lakh.

There are 11 players with a base price of 4 million and 19 players with a base price of 5 million. This means the 3 million category is the largest group this time, making it clear that this bracket will be fiercely competitive.

Marquee Set: A clash of the world's top players

The auction will begin with the Marquee Set, a pool consisting of the world's top women cricketers. This is expected to be a strong start to the auction. The marquee set includes eight veteran players like Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh, Sophie Devine, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Ecclestone, Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt.

Of these, players like Meg Lanning, Ecclestone, Healy and Wolvaardt have already performed brilliantly in the Women's Premier League, while Deepti Sharma and Renuka are stars of the Indian team.

Most teams have already retained their key players. Therefore, this auction will be an opportunity to select players who can fill the void in their squads. Teams will also focus on balancing their death bowling. Match-finishers and power-hitter players will also be in focus. Lower-ranked teams will see this auction as a prime opportunity for change and a better performance in the upcoming season.

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

WPL 2026 Auction List | India international players and base prices

With another century in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 group stage match against New Zealand, Smriti Mandhana now has extended her lead in the list of Indian players with the most centuries in Women's ODIs. The left-handed opener reached her 14th career century off 88 balls, hammering 10 fours and three sixes-putting up another batting masterclass in a match India needed to win to qualify for the semifinals.

Here is a list of eight women batters with the most centuries by Indian cricketers in WODIs.

Also Read: Most T20I runs for Indian Women's team: Smriti Mandhana at top

Most centuries by Indian cricketers (WODI)

8. Jaya Sharma | 2 Centuries

Former Indian batter Jaya Sharma was only the second female Indian cricketer to have scored a century in ODI cricket. She smashed two centuries in WODI cricket in her career.

While her first century had come against Pakistan during Women's Asia Cup 2005 in Karachi, she scored another one in a winning effort against Australia in 2007 in Chennai making her the first Indian women to score an ODI century at home.

The left-handed batter could've achieved the milestone a few years before had she converted a couple of nervous 90s into hundreds.

7. Thirush Kamini | 2 Centuries

Former Indian and Tamil Nadu opener Thirush Kamini played for India at a time when women's cricket wasn't really picking up in the country. Regardless, she did well in her limited opportunities and notched a ton twice in her ODI career that spanned 39 matches and scored 825 runs at an average of 25.78.

Kamini's maiden ODI hundred came in India's win over the West Indies in the 2013 ODI World Cup. She stroked a 146-ball 100 to power India to a total of 284/6 in the first innings. India won that match comfortably and Thirush Kamini was rightfully awarded the POTM award.

6. Pratika Rawal | 2 Centuries

Indian opener Pratika Rawal has scored her first-ever Women's World Cup century, leading India to a commanding position in a crucial encounter against New Zealand in Navi Mumbai. The 25-year-old smashed 134-ball 122, hitting 3 fours and two sixes along the way. This is Rawal's second WODI century. Both her hundreds have come at home.

Playing her 23rd WODI match, Rawal also surpassed 1,000 runs. She is also the third quickest Indian to score a maiden century in Women’s ODIs. However, before the historic World Cup final, Rawal got injured and could not return for the rest of the tournament.

5. Punam Raut | 3 Centuries

The diminutive Indian batter Punam Raut was one of the pillars in Indian batting along with Harmanpreet, Smriti, Mithali and Veda Krishnmurthy. Punam has recorded three centuries in women's ODI cricket.

Punam smashed one WODI century at a home venue and two WODI centuries at neutral venues. Her highest score in this format is 109 not out against Ireland Women at Potchefstroom during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2017.

4. Jemimah Rodrigues | 3 Centuries

Star batter Jemimah Rodrigues delivered a stunning performance in the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup semi-final, guiding India’s chase against Australia at DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai.

Rodrigues delivered a sensational knock of 127 runs off just 134 balls in the 42nd over, earning loud cheers from the home crowd. Her innings featured 14 fours, scored at a strike rate of 94.78.

With this century, Jemimah has now joined the elite list of most centuries by Indian cricketers in WODIs. This is also Rodrigues' highest score in Women's ODIs after her 123 against South Africa Women earlier this year.

3. Harmanpreet Kaur | 7 Centuries

Indian Women's Cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur is one of the finest batters in Indian women’s cricket history. The right-handed batter has scored seven WODI centuries in her career, equalling Mithali Raj’s record of seven ODI centuries.

Apart from four home WODI centuries, Harmanpreet also recorded two WODI hundreds at neutral venues and one more at an away venue. Her highest WODI score is 171 not out against Australia Women during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2017 semi-final. Harmanpreet also became the first Indian captain to achieve Women's World Cup title in the ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025.

2. Mithali Raj | 7 Centuries

Former Indian cricketer and captain Mithali Raj (7805 runs) is still the only player to score 6000 and 7000 WODI runs. The leading WODI run-scorer was the previous record holder for most centuries by Indian cricketers in WODIs.

She recorded seven WODI hundreds in her career.

While Mithali scored three WODI centuries at home, the right-handed batter recorded three WODI centuries at neutral venues and one at an away venue. Her highest WODI knock was 125 not out against Sri Lanka Women at Katunayake in 2018.

Also Read: Top 10 fastest centuries in Women's T20Is

1. Smriti Mandhana | 14 Centuries

Indian opening batter Smriti Mandhana is one of the best batters in the modern generation. The left-hander holds the record for most centuries by Indian cricketers in WODIs.

She achieved the record solely in October 2025 after scoring a 88-ball century against New Zealand in the group stage match of the ICC Women's World Cup 2025 in Navi Mumbai. It was her 14th WODI hundreds. Her innings consisted of 10 boundaries and three sixes.

Mandhana has scored seven WODI centuries at home, five WODI centuries in away venues, and two WODI hundreds at neutral venues. By scoring three out of four WODI home centuries in 2024, she also became the first Indian player to record three WODI hundreds in a calendar year. Her record WODI score is 136 against South Africa Women in the 2024 Bengaluru WODI.

The Indian cricket team beat South Africa by 52 runs in the final to win the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. After heartbreaks in 2005 and 2017, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side produced a complete performance to lift their maiden Women’s Cricket World Cup title, also becoming the first women’s team from Asia to win a global title across formats.

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.

Read Also: ICC tournaments hosted by India – History & Highlights

2025 Women's World Cup Winner

Harmanpreet Kaur's Indian women's cricket team has made history by becoming the first from the country to clinch the Women's World Cup title. Playing their third final after the heartbreaks of 2005 and 2017, the Women in Blue rose to the occasion in style, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the Women's World Cup 2025 title clash to script a watershed moment in Indian cricket. 

After posting 298 for 7, the second-highest total in tournament history, India held their nerve to bundle out South Africa for 246 in 45.3 overs.

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
• India (1 time): 2025

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 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 to go with their recent triumph at the ICC Women's World Cup 2025. The new-age Indian players like Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Shafali Verma are taking Indian women's cricket to the next level, with Harmanpreet Kaur leading the team calmly. 

As India lift their maiden ICC Women's World Cup in Navi Mumbai, beating South Africa by 52 runs, we present you with the Indian cricket team's performance in every ICC Women's World Cup edition.

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

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

A sight to behold for all of India 🏆#CWC25 pic.twitter.com/3TeI3Ksrhi

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) November 2, 2025

India Women's Cricket Team's 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 semifinals in 1997, when they hosted the tournament. India made it to the semifinal in 2000, too.

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

In 2017, they faced heartbreak after losing to England final, despite being really close to lifting the trophy.

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

But, finally, on their home soil in 2025, they defeated South Africa in the final in Navi Mumbai to lift their maiden ICC Women's World Cup. Harmanpreet Kaur became the first Indian woman captain to lift an ICC trophy.

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