Another disappointment for all the Indian fans as India bows out to South Africa in the last match of the Women's World Cup 2022. A "no-ball" by Deepti Sharma helped the South African team defeat India in the last ball of the league phase.

However, that was not the only thing that prevented India from going to the next round of the World Cup. Former India cricketer and former Chairman of selection committee BCCI, Gargi Banerjee gives us a summary of what went wrong with the Indian team and what they should focus on to win the next world cup.

What went wrong?

"The bowling let us down," she started the interview by saying with disappointment in her voice. "Except Jhulan (Goswami), not a single bowler had the discipline and consistency," she added.

"The batters were very good except for the England match. Everyone in the top four performed, our bowlers needed to perform in the crunch situations. We missed Jhulan in the last match. It could have been different if we had Jhulan there in the team."

In the spinning department, Rajeshwari Gayakwad was the senior-most candidate in the team. However, she failed to perform under pressure when a lot was expected from her. Sneh Rana was good in bits and pieces. But there is a lot that needed to be done with her. In that aspect, the selectors will have to look for fresh faces in the spin and medium-pace bowling department.

Read Also: "Women's team can hold their heads high," Virat Kohli puts an inspiring message for the Indian Women's Team

"BCCI will have to set specialised left-arm and off-spinners' camp to find new fresh talents from all over India. Even we will need pace bowling camps as well," Gargi Banerjee added.

"Need to raise the standard of our domestic tournaments": Gargi Banerjee

With everything being said on what was not up to the mark in the World Cup, now the question arises of what India needs to do to win the next one. MS Dhoni after winning the 2007 T20 World Cup stated, "If we need to win the 2011 ODI world cup, we will have to start planning from today." Gargi Banerjee feels the same way as the former India captain. But how?

"First of all, we will need to raise the standard of our domestic tournaments. The level of competition needs to be raised," she answered.

"Railways have a pool of Indian cricketers and that makes them one of the strongest. There are two or three other teams that are doing well as well. But the percentage needs to grow. There can not be only three-four good teams out of 29 states.

Gargi Banerjee

"It is high time we set up specialised camps for the players who are doing well at the domestic level. We need to nurture them and turn them into tough individuals who are willing to do everything for our country," the former Indian cricketer sounded ambitious while explaining everything that needed to be done.

Read Also: ICC Women's World Cup semifinals and final schedule and fixture

"Fielding and fitness that need to get better at first": Gargi Banerjee

This is all that the state association and BCCI should look to implement to make a bench for the Indian Women's team to win high-level matches. But, what the players should do?

"Every player should have the ambition to represent the country and win that World Cup. At the state level, the players need to be more professional. You can not just turn up before the tournaments and play matches. Each and every player must do fitness training and look after their routines throughout their off-season. State associations should track their progress as well," she answered.

"I have seen Jhulan doing her fitness training every day. That is what made her capable of playing for so long. The state players need to have the same hunger as Jhulan," she added.

With all the focus on batting and bowling, Gargi Banerjee feels it is the fielding and fitness that need to get better at first. "Our bowlers (except Jhulan) are bowling four good balls and then bowling two bad ones. It is because they lack the stamina and fitness to hold their mental balance. So, at first, we need to get better at our fitness level."

She thinks that the addition of quality trainers can enhance the fitness level of every player across the domestic circuit. "There should be mandatory fitness camps throughout the season for all the domestic and Indian players. This will bring a more professional look into our setup" she added.

Now with Mithali and Jhulan's careers nearly coming to an end, the team management will have to dig deep to find and fill the void created by those two legends. "You can not have another Jhulan or Mithali. Let's not hope for that. What we can do is set up specialised camps and groom some young talents to fill those gaps in playing eleven."

The next captain?

As per the reports, Smriti Mandhana will be the one to lead the team in absence of Mithali Raj. "Smriti will surely be a good leader. But we will have to look after her work pressure as well. Harmanpreet is also there who can lead the team as well."

Although with all the disappointments, she feels "India tried their best and will have to learn from their mistake. They tried hard and this will be a learning lesson for all younger faces in the team."

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

On day two of the Bengal versus Assam Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Elite Group C match at the Bengal Cricket Academy in Kalyani, an unusual sight caught everyone's attention: a foreign couple, both sporting Indian cricket team hats, watched the entire game with unwavering enthusiasm. Their presence piqued the curiosity of Sportz Point, prompting a deeper look into their fascinating story.

Meet David Marucs and Deborah Marcus, who came all the way from England to watch the India vs South Africa Test series at Eden Gardens, and since the Test match was over in three days, they did not want to waste the opportunity to watch a Ranji Trophy match.

English couple’s love for cricket makes them return back to India

The 70-year-old couple has been married for 13 years since Deborah’s first husband passed away. Ever since, Deborah has accompanied David on his cricket adventures, journeying to India with him twice each year to indulge his passion for the sport. “David loves cricket, and I travel with him to every cricket match he goes to,” Deborah shared with Sportz Point.

David, a former software engineer from England, first visited India in 2009 and, since then, has been coming here frequently. “I love the enthusiasm for cricket here. Everyone is so attached to the game. I love the passion. I even have a five-year visa,” David told us.

Read Also: Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 Full Details: Schedule, Start Date, Format & Will Rohit Sharma Play?

Both David and Deborah were impressed to see the number of fans who turned up for the India vs South Africa, 1st Test at Eden Gardens. “It was around 48,000 people on Friday and even more on Saturday. It is great for Test cricket. But, it was sad to see the match getting over in three days,” David expressed.

The elderly couple, however, was not impressed with a few things at the Eden Gardens Cricket stadium during their visit to the ground. “There should be more food and a few more things available for the fans at the stadium, who were not under the shade. It was hot. But, even with the sun out, fans kept on turning up, which is great,” David added.

From England to New Zealand via India, just for love of cricket

Although David is from England, Deborah is from New Zealand. They both now live in England, and every year they travel to New Zealand to see her family there. But their love for cricket will take them to New Zealand via India.

“From here, we will go to Guwahati to watch the second Test. From there on, we will travel to New Zealand,” Deborah shared.

In the 2024 India vs England Test series, both David and Deborah travelled in five Indian cities, from Hyderabad to Himachal Pradesh, for the five Tests. In between that, Deborah even went to Kashmir to watch one of the most scenic places on earth.

“Last year, we travelled to five cities during the Test series. But there was a gap between the end of the fourth Test in Ranchi and the start of the final Test in Dharamshala. So, I even went to Kashmir as well,” Deborah told.

Read Also: Fast, accurate and fearless: Nuruddin Mondal bowling bouncer to life every day

Deborah, who played Croquet for New Zealand in the past, is proud to see the growth of Women’s Cricket in England and in India, too. “It is great to see how women’s cricket is growing. I have seen it in England, and I believe it is growing in India as well. More people should come up and invest in women’s cricket,” Deborah added.

Despite the concerning air pollution in the northern part of India, especially in Delhi, the couple wishes to come back to India for their love of cricket.

“We can sense the love for cricket here. Even in domestic matches, people are coming to watch games. The IPL has changed the future of the game, too. We would love to see IPL matches in India someday as well. It’s just an electric atmosphere,” David told us, just before catching their taxi from Kalyani to Kolkata, from where they will fly to Guwahati to watch the second Test between India and South Africa.

After returning with only one point against Tripura in Agaratala in their third match, Bengal will again, for the second time in this Ranji Trophy 2025-26 will have to look for a new captain. Not only that, they will have to add a new wicket-keeper batter after Abishek Porel’s India-A call-up for the Rising Star Asia Cup tournament in Qatar.

Mistakes cost Bengal six points

Okay, if not six, it definitely cost Bengal 3 points. Three dropped catches, and among them, three from the stand-in captain, Abishek Porel. Hanuma Vihari, who scored a three-point winning 141, was dropped twice by wicket-keeper Abishek Porel, one off Mohammed Kaif and one off his cousin brother Ishan Porel.

Later on, Anustup Majumdar could not hold on to a tough one of Vijay Shankar in the wide first slip as well. These mistakes allowed Tripura to make a comeback in the match. From 53/5, they scored 385 to earn their first point of the season.

If Bengal could hold onto those chances, they were surely in for six points, with Mohammed Kaif and Ishan Porel looking in rhythm, obviously alongside Mohammed Shami.

Sudip Gharami might become the captain for the Railways match

Since Abishek Porel will be in the India-A team for the Rising Star Asia Cup, Bengal will have to look for a new captain for the second time in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 this season. Abhimanyu Easwaran, who was named the captain ahead of the season, is currently unavailable till the Assam match due to India-A duties, and till then, Sudip Gharami might be made the captain of the side.

Sudip last year led Bengal in the white-ball format, and Bengal played in the knockouts of the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well under his captaincy. Although there is Anustup Majumdar, who can be captain as well, it is unlikely that the 41-year-old batter would take the responsibility just for one match.

Read Also: Tripura vs Bengal, Ranji Trophy 2025-26 recap: Tripura shocks Bengal with tons from Vihari and Mura; Tripura 3, Bengal 1

Now, to replace Abishek Porel, Bengal will not only need a captain, but they will have to add a wicket-keeper batter as well. Keepers like Agniv Pan, Suvankar Bal, who have first-class experience, can be options as well. Meantime, U-19 or U-23 keepers can be called up for the Railways too.

Shami might not travel to Surat

During the press conference after the match against Gujarat, Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla had said to the media that it is not possible to expect Mohammed Shami will play all the matches of the season. Now, after playing three consecutive matches and going wicketless for the first time this season against Tripura, there will be a question about his workload.

So, the calculations might end up with Mohammed Shami not travelling to Surat for the match against Railways. It is unlikely that Bengal will add some other bowlers from outside the current squad. In that case, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal can come into the playing XI, with Sumit Mohanta continuing as a backup pacer.

Bengal will leave for Surat on 5th November.

When is the Railways vs Bengal, Ranji Trophy 2025-26 match?

The Railways vs Bengal, Ranji Trophy 2025-26 match will be played from 8th November 2025 to 11 November 2025 at Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat.

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.