New Delhi: India Women’s Cricket Team has been nominated for the prestigious Laureus World Team of the Year 2026 at the Laureus World Sports Awards, following their historic triumph at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in November 2025.
The landmark victory marked India’s first-ever ODI Women’s World Cup title, ending decades of heartbreak and near-misses in the global tournament. The nomination is being seen as a significant recognition of India’s rise in women’s sport and their growing dominance on the international cricket stage.
Nomination alongside global sporting giants
The nominations were announced at a ceremony in Madrid on Tuesday. Winners will be decided by the Laureus World Sports Academy and revealed at a grand gala event at the iconic Cibeles Palace in Madrid on April 20.
India Women’s team finds itself in elite company, competing alongside some of the biggest names in world sport. The nominees for Laureus World Team of the Year 2026 are:
- Paris Saint-Germain (Football – France)
- McLaren Formula 1 Team (Formula 1 – UK)
- European Ryder Cup Team (Golf – Europe)
- England Women’s Football Team (Football – UK)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (Basketball – USA)
- India Women’s Cricket Team (India)
The recognition highlights India’s excellence, resilience and growing contribution to women’s sport at the global level.
How India became world champions
India’s campaign at the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup was nothing short of dramatic. They began the tournament on a strong note with convincing victories over Sri Lanka by 59 runs via the DLS method and Pakistan by 88 runs. Clinical batting performances and disciplined bowling laid the foundation for their title charge.
However, the momentum dipped midway through the league stage. India suffered three consecutive defeats against Australia, South Africa and England, exposing certain vulnerabilities against top-ranked sides and putting their qualification hopes under pressure.
A major setback came when in-form opener Pratika Rawal, who had amassed 308 runs in the tournament, was ruled out with a serious ankle injury sustained while fielding against Bangladesh. Shafali Verma was brought in as her replacement, a move that later proved decisive.
Resilience in knockout stages
Despite the setbacks, India regrouped with remarkable composure in the knockout stages. In the semi-final, they chased down a record target against Australia in a high-pressure encounter that signalled their renewed confidence.
The final, held at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, turned into a historic night for Indian cricket. India defeated South Africa by 52 runs to clinch their maiden Women’s World Cup title.
Shafali Verma played a starring role with a crucial 87-run knock and also chipped in with two wickets. Deepti Sharma delivered an all-round masterclass, scoring 58 runs and claiming a five-wicket haul to seal the victory.
The triumph sparked celebrations across the country and was hailed as a watershed moment for women’s cricket in India.
Global recognition for Indian women’s sport
The Laureus nomination underscores the broader impact of India’s victory beyond the cricket field. The award, often referred to as the “Oscars of Sport”, honours outstanding sporting achievements across disciplines worldwide.
Being shortlisted among global powerhouses reflects not only India’s competitive success but also the team’s influence in inspiring young athletes, especially girls aspiring to pursue cricket professionally.
Conclusion
As the sporting world awaits the final announcement in Madrid, India Women’s Cricket Team has already achieved a significant milestone by earning a place among the world’s best teams at the Laureus Awards 2026. Whether they lift the trophy or not, their World Cup triumph and global recognition mark a transformative chapter in Indian sport.
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