The cricketing world holds its breath as the 13th edition of the ICC Women`s Cricket World Cup gears up to transform the pitches of India and Sri Lanka into a canvas for history. Kicking off on September 30 in Guwahati, this tournament is more than just a battle for the coveted trophy; it`s a monumental occasion, marking the final time the event will feature an eight-team format before an anticipated expansion. As the world turns its gaze to the Indian subcontinent – hosting a senior ICC women`s tournament for the first time since 2016 – the stage is set not just for fierce competition, but for an astonishing array of individual and team milestones.
Batting Brilliance: Chasing Immortality
The return of the World Cup to the subcontinental conditions often signals a feast for batters, and 2025 appears to be no exception. Preparations are underway for an onslaught of runs, with several players eyeing legendary records that have stood for decades. New Zealand`s Debbie Hockley’s formidable 1501 World Cup runs, a record since 2000, now faces a serious challenge from her compatriot, Suzie Bates. Bates, with 1179 runs to her name, needs just 322 more to dethrone Hockley, a feat well within her grasp given the tournament`s length.
But Bates isn`t alone in her pursuit of batting glory. India`s explosive captain, Harmanpreet Kaur (876 runs), and England`s dynamic all-rounder, Nat Sciver-Brunt (805 runs), are also poised to climb the scoring charts. Both Bates and Sciver-Brunt already share the record for most World Cup centuries, with four each, while Harmanpreet, with three, is just three sixes away from becoming the leading six-hitter in ODI World Cups. One might suggest these batters view the record books less as hallowed texts and more as interactive to-do lists.
Beyond tournament-specific records, career milestones loom large. Bates (5895 ODI runs) is on the cusp of crossing the 6,000-run mark, potentially becoming only the second woman to do so after the iconic Mithali Raj. She also has her sights set on becoming the leading run-scorer across all formats, surpassing Raj`s aggregate of 10,868 runs. Australia`s ever-consistent Ellyse Perry (4329 ODI runs) is looking to eclipse Belinda Clark’s record as the highest Australian run-scorer, while New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine is just shy of 4,000 ODI runs.
Keep an eye on South Africa`s Tazmin Brits, who enters the tournament with an incredible three consecutive ODI centuries. Could she make it four in South Africa’s opening match against England? The batting fireworks promise to be spectacular.
The Bowling Titans: A War of Wickets
While the batters eye centuries, the bowlers are sharpening their skills to claim the precious wickets. The legendary Jhulan Goswami’s record of 43 World Cup wickets is under serious threat from a formidable trio. Australia`s pace spearhead, Megan Schutt (34 wickets), South Africa`s fiery all-rounder, Marizanne Kapp (32 wickets), and the ubiquitous Ellyse Perry (31 wickets) are all within striking distance of the coveted top spot. It`s a race that could see an era-defining moment in women`s cricket.
England`s left-arm spinner, Sophie Ecclestone, known for her phenomenal control and wicket-taking ability, needs just 12 more wickets to become England’s second-highest ODI wicket-taker. For India, off-spinner Deepti Sharma, with 140 ODI wickets, stands two wickets away from surpassing Neetu David to become India`s second-highest and leading spinner in ODI history, a significant achievement in a nation renowned for its spin bowlers.
Kapp (169 wickets) and Perry (166 wickets) also have their eyes on becoming the third-highest wicket-takers in the ODI format overall. Perry, a true all-format legend, needs just five more wickets to become the second-most prolific wicket-taker across all formats, trailing only Goswami. In a delightful twist, South African off-spinner Sune Luus is one five-wicket haul away from equaling West Indies` Anisa Mohammed’s record of six in ODIs – a milestone that would solidify her place among the game’s elite.
Smriti Mandhana: India`s Run-Machine on a Rampage
No discussion of potential records would be complete without a special spotlight on India`s own, Smriti Mandhana. The ICC Women`s ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2024 has been in scintillating form. With 13 ODI centuries, she now stands joint-second on the all-time list, alongside Suzie Bates, with only Australia`s Meg Lanning (15) ahead. It seems Lanning’s records are now less “untouchable” and more “target practice” for Mandhana.
Mandhana has already hammered four centuries in 2025 alone, equalling the record for most ODI hundreds in a calendar year – a feat she shares with South Africa’s Tazmin Brits. With at least seven group games ahead, Mandhana has a legitimate shot at surpassing Lanning’s overall ODI century record. Her 23 sixes in ODIs this year are also close to Lizelle Lee`s record of 28 in 2017, suggesting her scoring isn`t just prolific, but powerfully destructive.
Perhaps most intriguingly, Mandhana has amassed 928 ODI runs in 2025, bringing her tantalizingly close to Belinda Clark’s long-standing record of 970 runs in a single calendar year (set in 1997). Given her phenomenal form, especially in home conditions, one might expect this 27-year-old record to finally fall. Furthermore, she needs just 112 runs to reach 5000 ODI runs, aiming to become the fastest to the mark. Her relentless pursuit of excellence makes her a captivating player to watch.
A Partnership of Power: Mandhana and Rawal
Mandhana`s individual brilliance is amplified by her formidable opening partnership with Pratika Rawal. This duo stands as the only pair to score over 1,000 partnership runs in a calendar year in Women`s ODIs, boasting three century stands in 2025. They are just two more century partnerships away from equalling the record of five in a year, held by Australia`s Clark and Lisa Keightley. On home soil, they have already scored 917 runs in 2025, closing in on the 1,000-run mark – a testament to their consistency and destructive potential at the top of the order.
The Tournament Landscape: A High-Scoring Farewell
Expectations are soaring for a high-scoring World Cup. The historically batting-friendly Indian conditions, coupled with recent series showing escalating run totals (like the India vs Australia clashes), suggest that records like Australia’s 412 for 3 (1997) or the highest chase of 278 (against India in 2022) could very well be challenged, if not broken. The game has evolved, and the women`s teams are playing with an audacity and power that few could have imagined a decade ago.
Australia, the defending champions with a staggering seven titles, remain the team to beat, followed by England (four titles) and New Zealand (one). Both India and the West Indies have reached finals but are still chasing their maiden World Cup triumph – an ambition that adds another layer of drama to this edition. The fact that no team has won back-to-back titles since Australia’s three-peat from 1978 to 1988 also puts added pressure on the current champions.
As Women’s ODIs in 2025 have already witnessed an unprecedented number of 300+ totals, a record 30 individual centuries, and sixes raining down close to a new high, this World Cup is poised to be an unforgettable spectacle. With powerful batters, strategic bowlers, and dynamic all-rounders across all eight teams, prepare for a tournament brimming with career-defining moments, colossal totals, and standout performances. This co-hosted event in India and Sri Lanka promises a grand, fitting, and perhaps ironically, a record-shattering farewell to the eight-team era of the ICC Women`s Cricket World Cup.
