Youngsters to watch in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup

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The ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 is scheduled to kick off on September 30, 2025, running through to the final on October 26, 2025. The tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with matches played across multiple venues in both nations. This highly anticipated event will feature the world’s top eight teams battling for the coveted trophy.

The main teams competing include the defending champions and tournament favourites Australia, hosts India, New Zealand, England, South Africa, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The tournament is set to be a massive showcase for the women’s game, with the subcontinental venues providing a challenging and passionate environment for the competition.

1. Pratika Rawal (India)

Pratika Rawal is the Indian women’s team’s new opening batter, a right-hander whose rise has been meteoric since her ODI debut in December 2024. A psychology graduate, she has brought a unique blend of mental fortitude and classical technique to the crease. Rawal quickly cemented her spot, famously replacing a seasoned player, and went on to set new records for the fastest Indian woman to reach 500 ODI runs.

Her defining moment came with a magnificent maiden century, scoring 154 against Ireland in early 2025, demonstrating her capability to both anchor and dominate an innings. Forming a potent opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana, her ability to build an innings under pressure is invaluable in the ODI format. She also contributes as a handy off-spinner, proving her utility as a complete package for the home World Cup. She embodies the new generation of Indian cricketers who are mentally and technically ready for the world stage.

2. Georgia Voll (Australia)

Australia’s Georgia Voll is a versatile and composed batter whose rapid rise saw her secure a central contract at the age of 22. She demonstrated her top-level readiness by flawlessly stepping in for an injured teammate to smash a brilliant 101 in only her second ODI. Critically, her unbeaten 99 in her first Women’s Premier League (WPL) season confirmed her ability to thrive in the challenging subcontinental conditions, which is invaluable given the World Cup venues. Voll is a valuable multi-role asset for Australia, capable of performing under pressure regardless of her spot in the final eleven, a credit to the strength of the Australian domestic setup.

3. Georgia Plimmer (New Zealand)

Georgia Plimmer is one of the White Ferns’ most exciting young batters, recently moving up to the opening slot from the middle order. This shift proved inspired, as the 21-year-old followed it up by achieving her maiden ODI century against Sri Lanka. Her capacity for scoring big hundreds was further highlighted by another century in an A-series. Plimmer is already an experienced winner, holding a T20 World Cup medal with the New Zealand squad. Her proven talent at the top of the order and her ability to consistently convert good starts into substantial scores make her an essential part of New Zealand’s batting plan.

4. Lauren Bell (England)

Lauren Bell is now the designated pace spearhead for England, stepping up following the absence of veteran Kate Cross. At a time of transition, Bell’s consistency has been unmatched, taking more wickets than any other English fast bowler since the start of 2024. Known for her height and ability to generate swing both ways, a skill she unlocked after remodelling her action, she presents a constant threat. Her reliability is clear: she’s gone wicketless in a minimal number of her 28 ODI appearances. Bell’s accuracy and movement will be paramount in providing breakthroughs, particularly on the slower pitches expected in the subcontinent.

5. Marufa Akter (Bangladesh)

Bangladesh’s attack gains a crucial dimension in Marufa Akter, who has become the team’s fast-bowling leader in a squad traditionally dominated by spinners. At just 20 years old, Marufa boasts a strong ODI record, having already accumulated 20 wickets in 26 matches. Her action is smooth, and her ability to swing the ball both ways allows her to strike early with the new ball. She first captured attention by being Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker at the 2023 Under-19 T20 World Cup. Marufa’s disciplined, bustling approach to the wicket is key to disrupting the opposition’s top order before the spinners take over.

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

6. Annerie Dercksen (South Africa)

Annerie Dercksen has rapidly cemented her place as a dynamic, multi-format all-rounder for South Africa since her 2024 debut. Although she’s a top-order batter in domestic cricket, she adapted seamlessly to the crucial middle-order role internationally. Dercksen’s grit and power evoke comparisons to her idol, Marizanne Kapp. Her ability to deliver on the subcontinent was powerfully demonstrated by her maiden ODI century (104) against Sri Lanka, a score that placed her among the top four South African centurions since 2024. Her close to 400 ODI runs and medium-pace bowling earned her a national contract and the Women’s ODI Player of the Year award.

7. Fatima Sana (Pakistan)

Fatima Sana is not only one of Pakistan’s most promising all-rounders but, at 23, has also been entrusted with the captaincy for the World Cup. The right-arm medium pacer is a true match-winner with both ball and bat. Her bowling is highly valued, evidenced by her 60+ ODI wickets and her maiden five-wicket haul (5/39) in 2021, which led to her being named the ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year. As a batter, she brings lower-order adaptability, with nearly 600 runs and a best of 90*. Sana’s leadership is centered on promoting belief and discipline, aiming to inspire a new generation of Pakistan cricketers.

8. Dewmi Vihanga (Sri Lanka)

Dewmi Vihanga is an exciting, tall off-spinner whose senior debut earlier this year made an immediate and significant impact. Despite being the newest addition to Sri Lanka’s formidable spin attack, her exceptional control and deceptive flight quickly established her as an indispensable asset. Her standout moment was a stunning five-wicket haul against South Africa in only her third international match, where she dismantled the core of the opposition’s batting line-up. As both her country’s highest wicket-taker and second-highest run-scorer at the Under-19 World Cup 2023, Vihanga showcases immense future all-round potential.

Also READ: Smriti Mandhana’s batting reminds Shubman Gill of an Australian great

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