Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues share their Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 predictions : From Leading run-scorers to top wicket-takers

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The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 is on the horizon, with the cricketing world buzzing in anticipation. Hosted in a hybrid model across India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2, the tournament will see the world’s best teams compete for the coveted trophy. The venues in India include Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam and Navi Mumbai, while Colombo will host matches in Sri Lanka.

As the teams finalize their preparations, a familiar pre-tournament activity is underway: bold predictions from the players themselves. Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, along with star batters Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, recently shared their insights on who they believe will be the top performers for the Indian side.

The debate over who will be India’s highest run-scorer is a testament to the depth and talent in the current squad. Speaking to Star Sports, Harmanpreet, ever confident in her abilities, nominated herself for the honour, stating she’s “preparing really hard for the tournament” and is aiming for a ‘great achievement.’ This self-belief from the captain is a positive sign for the team. Jemimah, on the other hand, offered a more comprehensive list, picking four players. Her choices included the in-form Mandhana, Harmanpreet, herself and the dynamic Richa Ghosh.

Mandhana, another key figure, expanded on the list, naming five players. Her picks were Mandhana herself, Harmanpreet, Jemimah, Harleen Deol and Pratika Rawal. The inclusion of Harleen and Pratika, a name less frequently discussed, shows Mandhana’s recognition of a broader group of players who could step up on the big stage. The consensus among the three players is clear: Mandhana and Harmanpreet are the top contenders, with Jemimah also a strong pick.

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When it came to the bowling attack, the predictions shifted, but a few names stood out as clear favorites. Harmanpreet immediately named Deepti Sharma, describing her as the team’s ‘go-to bowler’ and expressing full confidence in her ability to deliver. This is no surprise, as Deepti has been a consistent and reliable performer for India for years, especially with her accurate off-spin and ability to take crucial wickets in the middle overs.

Jemimah’s prediction, however, brought two pacers into the limelight. She first backed Renuka Singh Thakur, noting that she believes Renuka will be ‘fit by the time of World Cup.’ Renuka’s ability to swing the new ball and pick up early wickets could be a game-changer for India. Jemimah also added the experienced Sneh Rana to her list, recognizing the importance of her spin and control.

Mandhana’s list for most wickets was the most extensive, featuring four bowlers. She echoed her teammates by picking Deepti and Rana, underscoring their importance to the team. She also named Renuka and added the lesser-known Kranti Gaud, hinting at the potential of a young, emerging talent to make a significant impact. The collective predictions point to a strong and well-rounded Indian bowling attack, with the spin duo of Deepti and Sneh likely to be the main wicket-takers, supported by the new-ball prowess of Renuka.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.