World Cup Win Not Enough: India Women Snubbed in ICC Rankings
India Women's recent World Cup triumph seemingly wasn't enough to catapult them to the top of the ICC Women's ODI Team Rankings. Australia continues its reign. How is that possible?
The latest annual update of the ICC Women's ODI Team Rankings reveals Australia maintaining its stronghold at the summit, with India holding steady at third place. This is despite their victory in the recent ICC Women's World Cup 2025. The numbers don't lie, but they do raise questions.
Australia boasts a rating of 160. The team is a juggernaut, and when you look at the data, their consistency is clear. India, while celebrating a World Cup victory, has a rating of 116. This places them behind England.
Australia: 160 Rating
England: 121 Rating
* India: 116 Rating
Statistically speaking, India's performance throughout the ranking period, excluding the concentrated success of the World Cup, hasn't been enough to dislodge the top two. The rankings consider a broader spectrum of matches. It's a longer game than just one tournament.
The situation highlights the difference between peak performance and sustained excellence. While India peaked at the right time to secure the World Cup, their overall ODI record hasn't matched Australia's. Hardik Pandya, reflecting on fielding lapses within his own team, spoke about how dropped chances consistently hurt their progress; maybe India Women are dealing with similar issues?
But it's not just about on-field performance. It's about building a consistent winning culture. This is what separates Australia from the rest. It’s about sending it into orbit, not just a few good hits.
Adding another layer to the subcontinent's cricket complexities, R Ashwin recently suggested that while Shubman Gill is world-class, India's opening options are so rich that even a talent like Gill can find himself on the sidelines. It's a luxury problem, but one that points to the depth of Indian cricket.
The Afghan Refugee Women's Team is set to embark on their tour on June 22. Their entry onto the international stage represents the progress and inclusion that the ICC tries to foster. But could their inclusion change the ICC rankings in the future? It's hard to say at this point.
It’s also a reminder that the women’s game is developing rapidly, with more teams vying for top spots. India Women’s batters need to concentrate on getting their eye in quickly, and convert good starts into bigger scores. Their strike rates in the first powerplay will be crucial. The team must improve its average score per innings to challenge Australia and England.
India's World Cup win was magnificent, an absolute jaffa of a performance in the final. But consistency matters.
The next cycle of ODI matches will be crucial for India. Can they maintain their World Cup form and climb the rankings? Can they find that consistency? Time will tell.