India Women’s National Cricket Team – History, Records, Players & Achievements
The India women’s national cricket team has become one of the most competitive sides in world cricket. Representing India across Test, ODI, and T20I formats, the team—often called the Women in Blue—has achieved remarkable milestones over the years. Governed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the team holds full member status with the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Notably, they are Asian Games gold medalists and ranked among the top 5 in both ODIs and T20Is as of 2024. From historic victories to iconic players like Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, Smriti Mandhana, and Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s journey in women’s cricket is inspiring and ongoing.
Quick Facts Table
| Feature |
Details |
| Nickname |
Women in Blue |
| Governing Body |
BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) |
| ICC Status |
Full Member |
| First International Match |
31 October 1976 vs West Indies |
| Test Matches Played |
41 (Won: 8, Lost: 6, Draw: 27) |
| ODI Matches Played |
327 (Won: 180, Lost: 141) |
| T20I Matches Played |
204 (Won: 111, Lost: 86) |
| ODI World Cup Finals |
2005, 2017 (Runners-up) |
| T20 World Cup Final |
2020 (Runners-up) |
| Asia Cup Titles |
7 (Most by any team) |
| Asian Games Gold |
2022 (China) |
A Brief History of India Women’s Cricket
Cricket came to India in the 18th century, but women’s cricket took much longer to emerge. The Women’s Cricket Association of India (WCAI) was established in 1973. In 1976, the Indian women’s team played its first Test against the West Indies.
India’s first Test win came in 1978, under Shantha Rangaswamy’s leadership. Over time, India became a strong cricketing nation, especially after the WCAI merged with BCCI in 2006–07. This gave women’s cricket in India more structure and support.
ICC Rankings
As of June 2024, India is:
Recent Achievements
-
Asian Games 2022: Gold Medal
-
Commonwealth Games 2022: Silver Medal
-
2024 T20 Asia Cup: Runners-up
-
2025 T20I Series Win vs England: Historic 3-1 win
India is building a strong team for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England, showing continuous growth.
India Women’s Team Tournament Record
ODI World Cup History
| Year |
Stage Reached |
Wins |
Losses |
| 2005 |
Runners-up |
5 |
2 |
| 2017 |
Runners-up |
6 |
3 |
| 2022 |
Group Stage |
3 |
4 |
T20 World Cup Performance
| Year |
Best Finish |
Matches Played |
Wins |
| 2020 |
Runners-up |
6 |
4 |
| 2023 |
Semi-finalists |
5 |
3 |
| 2024 |
Group Stage |
4 |
2 |
Asia Cup Titles
| Year |
Result |
| 2004 |
Champions |
| 2005–06 |
Champions |
| 2006 |
Champions |
| 2008 |
Champions |
| 2012 |
Champions |
| 2016 |
Champions |
| 2022 |
Champions |
Most Notable Players in Indian Women’s Cricket
Here are India’s top players with record-breaking performances:
Top 5 Test Run-Scorers
| Player |
Runs |
Average |
| Sandhya Agarwal |
1,110 |
50.45 |
| Smriti Mandhana |
629 |
57.18 |
| Mithali Raj |
699 |
43.68 |
| Shafali Verma |
567 |
63.00 |
| Gargi Banerji |
614 |
27.90 |
Top 5 ODI Run-Scorers
| Player |
Runs |
Average |
| Mithali Raj |
7,805 |
50.68 |
| Smriti Mandhana |
4,473 |
46.59 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur |
3,943 |
37.55 |
| Anjum Chopra |
2,856 |
31.38 |
| Deepti Sharma |
2,300 |
35.38 |
Top 5 T20I Run-Scorers
| Player |
Runs |
Average |
| Smriti Mandhana |
3,761 |
29.38 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur |
3,589 |
29.17 |
| Mithali Raj |
2,364 |
37.52 |
| Jemimah Rodrigues |
2,267 |
30.22 |
| Shafali Verma |
2,045 |
25.56 |
Bowling Legends of Indian Women’s Cricket
Test Wicket Takers
| Player |
Wickets |
Average |
| Diana Edulji |
63 |
25.77 |
| Jhulan Goswami |
44 |
17.36 |
| Neetu David |
41 |
18.90 |
| Deepti Sharma |
20 |
18.10 |
| Sneh Rana |
23 |
20.95 |
ODI Wicket Takers
| Player |
Wickets |
Average |
| Jhulan Goswami |
255 |
22.04 |
| Neetu David |
141 |
16.34 |
| Deepti Sharma |
135 |
26.97 |
| Rajeshwari Gayakwad |
99 |
20.79 |
| Poonam Yadav |
80 |
25.15 |
T20I Wicket Takers
| Player |
Wickets |
Average |
| Deepti Sharma |
145 |
19.03 |
| Radha Yadav |
102 |
19.21 |
| Poonam Yadav |
97 |
15.25 |
| Renuka Singh |
58 |
21.74 |
| Rajeshwari Gayakwad |
61 |
19.13 |
Current Leadership and Squad
Leadership
-
Captain: Harmanpreet Kaur
-
Vice-Captain: Smriti Mandhana
-
Head Coach: Amol Muzumdar
Key Squad Players
| Name |
Role |
Format(s) |
| Smriti Mandhana |
Batter |
All formats |
| Shafali Verma |
Batter |
All formats |
| Deepti Sharma |
All-rounder |
All formats |
| Richa Ghosh |
Wicket-keeper |
All formats |
| Renuka Singh |
Fast Bowler |
All formats |
| Radha Yadav |
Spinner |
T20Is and ODIs |
| Jemimah Rodrigues |
Batter |
T20Is and ODIs |
Coaching and Support Staff
| Position |
Name |
| Head Coach |
Amol Muzumdar |
| Bowling Coach |
Aavishkar Salvi |
| Fielding Coach |
Munish Bali |
| Physiotherapist |
Akanksha Satyavanshi |
| Trainer |
Anand Date |
Sponsorship and Kit Details
| Period |
Kit Manufacturer |
Shirt Sponsor |
| 2005–2013 |
Nike |
Sahara |
| 2014–2017 |
Star India |
Star |
| 2017–2020 |
Nike |
OPPO |
| 2020–2023 |
MPL Sports |
BYJU’S |
| 2023–2028 |
Adidas |
Dream11 |
Home Grounds
India Women’s Team plays across multiple stadiums including:
-
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
-
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
-
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
-
M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Match Fees & Pay Equity
Since October 2022, BCCI ensures equal match fees for men and women:
-
Test: ₹15 Lakh
-
ODI: ₹6 Lakh
-
T20I: ₹3 Lakh
This policy has been a milestone in Indian sports, promoting gender parity.
Final Thoughts
The India women’s national cricket team has risen from humble beginnings to become a global powerhouse. Their commitment, talent, and achievements continue to inspire millions. As the sport gains popularity, the team is poised for even more historic moments.
From Test centuries to T20 triumphs, the Women in Blue represent the future of women’s cricket—not just in India, but around the world.
