ICC's Team of the Tournament: India's Trio Dominates Alongside South Africa's Record-Breaking Wolvaardt

The International Cricket Council has announced the 2025 Women's World Cup Team of the Tournament, recognizing exceptional performances across the tournament with three Indian champions—Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma—joining three South African stars in an 11-player squad captained by Laura Wolvaardt, whose record-shattering 571 runs at an average of 71.37 positions her as the most prolific individual run-scorer in any Women's World Cup history.

The Team of the Tournament

• 1. Smriti Mandhana (India) | Opening Batter

Runs: 434 | Average: 54.25 | Strike Rate: 99.09

One century (109 vs New Zealand), two fifties

Second-highest tournament run-scorer

• 2. Laura Wolvaardt (c) (South Africa) | Opening Batter

Runs: 571 | Average: 71.37 | Strike Rate: 98.78

Two centuries (169 vs England semifinal, 101 vs India final), three fifties

Record individual World Cup tally

• 3. Jemimah Rodrigues (India) | Middle Order

Runs: 292 | Average: 58.40

One century (127* vs Australia semifinal), one fifty (76 vs New Zealand)

Player-of-the-Match semifinal performance

• 4. Marizanne Kapp (South Africa) | All-rounder

Batting: Two half-centuries

Bowling: 12 wickets including 5/20 vs England (semifinal)

Second all-time Women's World Cup wicket-taker (50 total)

• 5. Ash Gardner (Australia) | All-rounder

Batting: 142 runs including second century of tournament vs England

Bowling: 7 wickets

Key performer in semi-final run

• 6. Deepti Sharma (India) | All-rounder - Player of the Tournament

Runs: 215 | Average: 30.71 (one century, three fifties)

Wickets: 22 | Average: 20.40 (tournament leading wicket-taker)

Final performance: 5/39 and 58 runs

• 7. Annabel Sutherland (Australia) | All-rounder

Batting: 98* vs England

Bowling: 17 wickets (second to Deepti)

Consistent performance across tournament

• 8. Nadine de Klerk (South Africa) | All-rounder

Batting: 84* off 54 vs India (league stage)

Bowling: 9 wickets

Useful middle-order/bowling utility

• 9. Sidra Nawaz (Pakistan) | Wicketkeeper

Dismissals: 3 catches, 4 stumpings

Outstanding glove work throughout tournament

Only semi-finalist exclusion player in side

• 10. Alana King (Australia) | Leg-spinner

Bowling: Historic 7/18 vs South Africa (best Women's World Cup bowling figures)

Impactful spell-bowling performance

• 11. Sophie Ecclestone (England) | Left-arm Spinner

Wickets: 16 at average of 14.25

Four-wicket hauls vs Sri Lanka and South Africa

Consistent bowling excellence

12th Player: Nat Sciver-Brunt (England)

Runs: 262 | Average: 43.67

Wickets: 9

All-round contribution as England captain

Selection Analysis

Indian Dominance

Three Indians in an 11-player side reflects India's championship-winning excellence across formats:

Mandhana: Consistency at opening (54.25 average)

Rodrigues: Match-defining semifinal century

Deepti: Dual excellence with bat and ball

Notably absent: Harmanpreet Kaur, despite leading India to the title. Her 143 runs at 28.60 average and defensive captaincy (rather than aggressive batting) likely cost her a selection spot despite championship credentials.

South Africa's Recognition

Three South Africans—despite finishing runners-up—reflects Wolvaardt's extraordinary individual dominance and Kapp/de Klerk's consistent all-round contributions. Wolvaardt's 571 runs dwarfs second-placed Mandhana's 434, establishing record margins that transcend tournament competition.

Australia's Representation

Three Australians—King, Sutherland, Gardner—recognize Australia's semifinal performance and exceptional bowling (King's 7/18 stands as competition's best figures). Despite semifinal exit, their individual excellence warranted selection.

The Sidra Nawaz Selection

Pakistan's Sidra Nawaz remains the only player in a non-finalist side selected, highlighting her exceptional wicketkeeping (7 dismissals). Her inclusion over other finalists' keepers reflects selection panel's emphasis on specialist performance rather than tournament placement.

Nat Sciver-Brunt as 12th

England's Sciver-Brunt—competing in her first World Cup as captain—made the 12-player squad despite missing the final XI, acknowledging her 262 runs and 9 wickets across England's semifinal run.

Statistical Highlights

Leading Run-Scorer: Laura Wolvaardt (571 runs) — record single-tournament tally Leading Wicket-Taker: Deepti Sharma (22 wickets) — Player of the Tournament Best Bowling Figures: Alana King (7/18 vs South Africa) Best Individual Batting: Laura Wolvaardt (169 vs England semifinal) Best Individual Bowling: Marizanne Kapp (5/20 vs England semifinal)

Selection Committee

The Team of the Tournament selection panel comprised:

Ian Bishop (Commentator)

Mel Jones (Commentator)

Isa Guha (Commentator)

Gaurav Saxena (ICC General Manager – Events and Corporate Communications)

Estelle Vasudevan (Journalist Representative)

The Harmanpreet Omission

Perhaps surprisingly, Harmanpreet Kaur—tournament-winning captain—was excluded from the final XI, though she scored 143 runs at 28.60 average with one half-century. Her defensive captaincy approach and batting average likely influenced selection, with Laura Wolvaardt's captaincy of the Team of the Tournament representing a symbolic acknowledgment that records matter as much as championships.