The Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack honour for the Leading Woman Cricketer in the World stands as one of the game’s most respected individual accolades, recognising the best performer across formats in a calendar year. Known widely as the “Bible of Cricket,” Wisden’s selections hold significant weight, and for Indian women’s cricket, each award has signalled a key moment in its global rise. To date, three Indian players have received this recognition on four occasions, each representing a distinct phase in the team’s development.
Mithali Raj (2017)
Mithali Raj earned the honour in 2017 during a defining period of her career, marked by both personal achievements and team success. She captained India to the final of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, playing a pivotal role as the side’s batting mainstay. Over the course of the tournament, she accumulated 409 runs, finishing among the top run-scorers and providing stability throughout the campaign.
Away from the World Cup, Mithali reached major milestones, becoming the leading run-scorer in Women’s ODI history and the first batter to surpass 6,000 ODI runs. She also recorded seven consecutive 50-plus scores in ODIs, a record that underlined her remarkable consistency across different conditions and opponents. Wisden’s recognition reflected both her statistical achievements and her long-standing influence on the game.
Smriti Mandhana (2018, 2024)
Smriti Mandhana followed with her first award in 2018, delivering a standout season that established her as one of the leading batters in international cricket. In ODIs, she scored 669 runs in 12 matches at an average of 66.90, including two centuries. Her impact extended into T20Is, where she amassed more than 600 runs at a strike rate exceeding 130, highlighting her aggressive approach at the top of the order. Her performances in overseas conditions, particularly in England and Australia, further reinforced her growing stature.
Mandhana became the first Indian woman to win the award twice when she was honoured again in 2024 after another exceptional year. She compiled 1,659 international runs, the highest tally by any woman in a single calendar year, showcasing her consistency across formats. In ODIs, she struck four centuries, the most by a player in a year, while maintaining an average above 50. She also made a significant contribution in Tests, scoring 149 against South Africa in a match that ended in a ten-wicket win for India.
Her ability to perform across formats and conditions, often setting the tone at the top of the order, made her a clear choice for Wisden’s top honour for the second time.
Deepti Sharma (2025)
Deepti Sharma’s award in 2025 reflected the growing value of all-rounders in the modern game. She enjoyed an outstanding season, playing a crucial role in India’s ICC Women’s ODI World Cup victory. During the tournament, she scored 215 runs at an average of 30.71 and picked up 22 wickets, emerging as one of the standout performers.
Her influence was particularly evident in the final, where she delivered a match-winning all-round performance, scoring 58 off 58 balls and returning figures of 5/39 to lead India to victory. Over the course of the year, Deepti finished as the leading wicket-taker in Women’s ODIs with 39 wickets, while also contributing valuable runs in the middle order.
A Reflection of India’s Growth
These recognitions highlight India’s steady rise in women’s cricket, with players consistently delivering at the highest level. From Mithali Raj’s record-breaking consistency to Smriti Mandhana’s prolific run-scoring and Deepti Sharma’s all-round excellence, each award illustrates the impact of Indian cricketers across formats and conditions on the global stage.
