3 major challenges that await Indian women's cricket in 2025

With some highs and lows in 2024, the Indian women's cricket is up for a tough litmus test this year. Although the Women in Blue have made significant strides in recent years, the challenges in the sport continue to evolve with time.

The calendar is all stacked up with bilateral series, ICC tournaments, and the Women's Premier League. With a check on their workload amid an ever-increasing talent pool in the country, the players will be striving to give their best.

On that note, let's discuss the three challenges that the Indian women's team will face in 2025.

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#1 Finding the right combination for both white-ball formats

After failing to reach the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup, the Indian team management got into a panic mode. In order to increase their pool of players, the likes of Minnu Mani, Tejal Hasabnis, Pratika Rawal, Titas Sadhu, Saima Thakor, Priya Mishra, and Tanuja Kanwer have been handed ODI caps in the last two months.

However, the Indian team need to find the right combination to achieve success this year. In particular, the Women in Blue have lacked depth in quality pace-bowling options and a capable batter in the lower order who can accelerate the run-scoring in the death overs.

In recent months, only Renuka Singh has looked like the regular pacer in India's XI, while other young pacers are yet to display their wicket-taking abilities.

Moreover, the over-dependence on top-order batters like Smriti Mandhana needs to be minimized. There should be a couple of in-form batters in the middle-order who can pull the team out of trouble.

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#2 Winning maiden ICC title in ODI World Cup at home

India will be hosting the ICC Women's ODI World Cup for the fourth time in October-November. However, they have failed to lay their hands on the coveted ICC title for a number of years now.

While they have performed well, Harmanpreet Kaur and company have failed to hold their nerve in crunch moments. Due to an inability to tackle pressure, they suffered defeats by nine runs each in the final of the 2017 World Cup and 2022 Commonwealth Games against England and Australia, respectively. Meanwhile, they were overwhelmed by the Aussies in the 2020 T20 World Cup final, losing by 85 runs.

India will have a chance to reign supreme at the 2025 World Cup in familiar conditions. A title victory would change the landscape of women’s cricket in India, and fuel the confidence of young girls in the country to take up the sport.

Certainly, a special focus needs to be laid on closing the gap in terms of skills and consistency to return with better performances in the marquee events. The pressure of past failures should also not have any effect on India's failure to cross the final hurdle.

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#3 Captaincy transition

The last decade saw Harmanpreet Kaur grow as the leader, and bring fresh energy and ideas to the team. However, as we enter 2025, captain Harmanpreet's efforts have not borne fruit, as they don't boast any ICC trophies.

The 2025 World Cup could prove to be India's final high-profile tournament under the 35-year-old if the side continue their barren run in ICC events. Other veteran players are waiting in the sheds to assume national captaincy, with the frontrunner being vice-captain Smriti Mandhana.

In the absence of Harmanpreet, Mandhana recently led India to a 2-1 T20I series victory over the West Indies. Being seven years younger than Harmanpreet, it will be the perfect time for Mandhana to take over as India's leader across all formats.