With just days to go before the ICC Women's World Cup 2025 begins, the spotlight is not only on the players but also on the voice that will set the tone - Shreya Ghoshal's stirring anthem, Bring It Home.
Smriti Mandhana's second-fastest hundred in women's ODIs went in vain as India's quest for a world-record chase in the series-deciding third game against Australia ended in a 43-run defeat, in New Delhi on Saturday.
Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur feels adapting to different conditions will be vital to defending the title in the upcoming Women's Premier League, which is scheduled to be played in Bengaluru and New Delhi from February 23 till March 17.
'Even in domestic cricket, we don't have red-ball cricket back home. So the challenge for us is to make yourself ready in such a short time.'
Even as Australia pressed hard to regain control with key breakthroughs, Jemimah's focus never wavered. Her shot selection was immaculate and temperament unflappable.
'Feeling really good that I'm the Player of the Match in a World Cup match. People in my village would be proud. They've put on a big LED screen to watch the match.'
India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged that the ICC Women's World Cup opener against Sri Lanka wasn't easy despite the hosts earning a facile 59-run victory in the end, under the DLS method.
All eyes are now on November 25, when all the specs, varians and pricing will be made known.
India women will be keen to internalise the conditions and character of venues in England ahead of next year's World Cup during the five-match T20I series against the hosts, beginning with the opening game on Saturday.
Harmanpreet Kaur and her team's maiden World Cup title is not just a turning point for cricket in the country but a watershed moment for Indian sports, feels women's head coach Amol Muzumdar.
Their remarkable World Cup-winning campaign was not the only topic covered when India's women cricketers sat down for a light-hearted conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence where tattoos and even skin care routine came up for discussion.
Long before Vaishnavi Sharma picked up a cricket ball, she says her future as a cricketer was known to her astrologer father, Narendra Sharma.
Skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt led from the front with a sparkling hundred as England beat India by 153 runs in their warm-up game ahead of the ICC Women's World Cup, in Bengaluru, on Thursday.
Amanjot Kaur, who was sidelined by a back stress fracture requiring surgery and a ligament tear in her hand after last year's WPL, claimed three wickets for 22 runs before blasting a 27-ball 34 to help MI chase down RCB's 167 with one ball to spare in the WPL match in Bengaluru on Friday.
Indian women's team captain Harmanpreet Kaur could well miss first two games in the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games on charges of equipment abuse and public criticism of match officials.
India were expecting a target around 380 against Australia but Phoebe Litchfield's dismissal followed by a "very good spell" from spinner Shree Charani turned the Women's ODI World Cup semifinal in the hosts' favour, said all-rounder Amanjot Kaur.
'A stunning display from England's man of the summer makes him the inaugural winner of The Wisden Trophy, awarded for the outstanding Test performance of the year,' Wisden Cricket announced on their Twitter handle.
Kaur is the only Indian to feature in the best XI of WBBL despite some quality performances by the likes of Smriti Mandhana, who became the first from the country to hit a century in the league with a record-equalling 114 not out.
Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said on Thursday that the defending champions have been trying to keep their own expectation level to a minimum and focus on the WPL opener against Delhi Capitals.
This is one picture that'll be cherished by posterity.
All-round India defeat Sri Lanka by 30 runs to take 4-0 lead in women's T20Is series
Smriti Mandhana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored fine unbeaten half-centuries as India defeated the West Indies by 56 runs to keep their slate clean in the women's T20I Tri-Series, in East London (South Africa) on Monday.
Several of India's former and current cricketers hailed batting sensation Harmanpreet Kaur after her magnificent century powered India into the final of the ICC Women's World Cup following a 36-run victory against Australia in the semi-finals, in Derby, on Thursday.
In the spin department, while seasoned campaigner Deepti Sharma is an automatic choice, it remains to be seen whether India go with both Radha Yadav and Sneh Rana or opt for either one of them.
It's good, pressure is not only around cricket but also for World Cup final tickets: Harmanpreet
Head coach Gambhir, captain Gill, men's squad send best wishes to Harmanpreet-led side for Women's World Cup final
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes the win will send a clear message that the long-standing dominance of other teams is over. However, he drew an interesting distinction between this historic triumph and the men's 1983 World Cup win.
The Indian women's team is set to leave for New Delhi from Mumbai on Tuesday for a special meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to celebrate their World Cup triumph.
Images from the WPL 2024 match between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Giants in New Delhi on Saturday.
With the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 fast approaching, the ICC has unveiled the flagship 'Will to Win' campaign film.
"We got the momentum back with Jemi (Rodrigues). To lose from here, we weren't expecting this," said Harmanpreet, as she struggled for words after the shattering loss.
Kaur credited their bowling coach's advice on taking wickets without being defensive, acknowledging its positive impact.
India took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series, with the final game scheduled to be played in Birmingham on Saturday.
#WeTheWomen returned to Mumbai for its eighth edition.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur was at a loss for words after her team stormed into the Women's ODI World Cup final but she did make a point to say that the players have already set their sights on the summit clash and are determined to "give their best" against first-timers South Africa.
'I think we have got a very settled batting lineup. Would not like to shuffle it around too much but when the need arises, you know we are flexible about it.'
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia believes a first Women's World Cup win for India would be a seminal moment, much like Kapil Dev's team in 1983.
In a first for the tournament, the WPL final will not be played over the weekend, but on Thursday, February, probably to avoid a clash with the men's T20 World Cup, which begins the same week in India and Sri Lanka.
Harmanpreet led from the front with her seventh women's ODI century as India defeated England by 13 runs in a high-scoring decider in Chester-le-Street, Durham on Tuesday to clinch the three-match series 2-1, following their 3-2 triumph in the WT20Is earlier.
India T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur and all-rounder Deepti Sharma came up with match-winning performances for their respective teams in the Women's Big Bash League on Sunday.
