The 2025 Women's T20 World Cup is set to be the largest edition yet, featuring 12 teams for the first time. This tournament promises to be one of the most open and competitive in history, with several teams capable of lifting the trophy. Here is a team-by-team guide to the groups, key players, and storylines to watch.
Group A
Australia
Coach: Shelley Nitschke | Captain: Sophie Molineux | Best WT20WC result: Winners (2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2023)
Six-time champions Australia remain the bookmakers' favorites, but for the first time, it is possible to imagine a scenario where they fail to reach the semi-finals. Group A is significantly tougher than Group B. By appointing left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux as captain in January, Australia may have backed themselves into a selection corner. Leg-spinner Alana King, their most effective bowler on the recent tour of the West Indies, is likely to be left out of the XI. Molineux's own match fitness is also a concern, as she has ongoing back issues that may limit her bowling. If she were not captain, she would not be selected as a pure batter. As W1A's marketing guru Siobhan Sharpe might say: 'We are where we are, and that's never a good place to be.'
Key player: Ash Gardner. Reportedly gutted not to be made captain, the all-rounder needs to accept the decision, move on, and step up with the bat after a relatively dry spell.
Bangladesh
Coach: Sarwar Imran | Captain: Nigar Sultana Joty | Best WT20WC result: Group stages (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2023, 2024)
Bangladesh are in unfamiliar territory, having never previously toured England. 'It will be very challenging for us,' captain Joty admitted. 'The wickets and the conditions are totally different from Asia.' They have been acclimatizing with a tri-series in Edinburgh against Scotland and the Netherlands, but results were mixed with two wins and two losses. In official warm-up games, they lost to Ireland and New Zealand.
Key player: Marufa Akter. The 21-year-old had England in tatters during the 50-over World Cup in October with her hooping inswing and will be Bangladesh's key strike bowler in this format.
India
Coach: Amol Muzumdar | Captain: Harmanpreet Kaur | Best WT20WC result: Runners-up (2020)
India are a tough team to predict. Their stated aim is to emulate Meg Lanning's Australia and dominate world cricket for a generation. They made a good start by winning the 50-over World Cup final in Navi Mumbai last November. Since then, they defeated Australia in a T20 series, lost 4-1 to South Africa, and alternated between sublime and ridiculous against England, eventually losing 2-1. The rollercoaster nature of that series was epitomized by Yastika Bhatia, who made a match-winning half-century on her return from a two-year injury, only to be controversially retired out two days later. Watch for pace bowler Nandani Sharma, who debuted last month against England after a WPL hat-trick.
Key player: Harmanpreet Kaur. When asked if she planned to make this her last World Cup at age 37, she replied disbelievingly, 'You think I should stop?' Her recent T20 form has been better than ever.
Netherlands
Coach: Neil MacRae | Captain: Babette de Leede | Best WT20WC result: N/A
The Dutch have had a remarkable few months. They only gained T20I status in 2018 but stormed through the qualifiers in January to book their first 20-over World Cup. With the exception of Sterre Kalis, the team consists entirely of part-time cricketers. Captain Babette de Leede has a master's degree in econometrics, while leg-spinner Caroline de Lange quit her job as a doctor to participate. They will target wins against Bangladesh and Pakistan, as the top eight finishers automatically qualify for the next T20 World Cup.
Key player: Sterre Kalis. The top-order batter is in her sixth year as a professional for Yorkshire and will provide valuable intel on English pitches.
Pakistan
Coach: Wahab Riaz | Captain: Fatima Sana | Best WT20WC result: Group stages
After a poor track record in recent global tournaments, Pakistan are favoring change over continuity. Five squad members are playing in their first T20 World Cup. They also revamped their coaching staff, removing Mohammad Wasim after a winless 50-over World Cup. Captain Fatima Sana is vital to their hopes, having smashed the fastest 50 in women's T20Is last month against Zimbabwe, taking just 15 balls.
Key player: Sadia Iqbal. The veteran left-arm spinner is ranked No. 2 in the world and will look to add to her impressive wicket tally.
South Africa
Coach: Mandla Mashimbyi | Captain: Laura Wolvaardt | Best WT20WC result: Finalists (2023, 2024)
Despite reaching the last three major World Cup finals, South Africa have gone retro, recalling Dane van Niekerk and Shabnim Ismail, who both retired from internationals in 2023. Ismail holds the record for the fastest ball in women's international cricket (128 km/h), while van Niekerk was MVP and winning captain in the inaugural Women's Hundred. However, reintegrating them risks disrupting a settled, successful squad.
Key player: Laura Wolvaardt. The skipper is in career-best form, with scores of 51, 54, 115, 18, and 92 not out in her last five T20I innings.
Group B
England
Coach: Charlotte Edwards | Captain: Nat Sciver-Brunt | Best WT20WC result: Winners (2009)
England are a much-improved team 18 months after their Ashes disaster. Fielding is sharp, fitness levels have improved, Alice Capsey has matured as a batter, and Charlie Dean has proven herself as a captain-in-waiting. Confidence is high after a successful run-chase of 181 against India to seal a series win at Taunton. However, Sophia Dunkley's form at the top is a concern, and aside from Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith, they rely on bits-and-pieces bowlers who could leak runs at the death. Sciver-Brunt has admitted she will not bowl due to a calf injury. Fortunately, England are in the easier group, and the prospect of a Lord's final in front of a home crowd is a powerful motivator.
Key player: Linsey Smith. The left-arm spinner is crucial to England's powerplay bowling and has been ranked the No. 1 T20 bowler in the world.
Ireland
Coach: Lloyd Tennant | Captain: Gaby Lewis | Best WT20WC result: Group stages (2014, 2016, 2018, 2023)
After failing to qualify for the 2024 edition, Ireland are determined to perform. 'It makes you cherish the experience a lot more,' captain Gaby Lewis said. They will miss injured former skipper Laura Delany but are relieved that Lewis is fit after missing a recent tri-series with a leg injury. Ireland recently defeated the West Indies, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Key player: Orla Prendergast. The powerful seam-bowling all-rounder knows English conditions well, having represented The Blaze for three seasons.
New Zealand
Coach: Ben Sawyer | Captain: Melie Kerr | Best WT20WC result: Winners (2024)
New Zealand have deliberately downplayed their status as reigning champions. 'That was a fair while ago with some pretty different players,' coach Ben Sawyer said. Focus has been on ensuring that Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, and Lea Tahuhu have a final tournament to remember, as all three have announced this will be their last World Cup. They are well-stocked in bowling, with off-spinner Nensi Patel impressing against England.
Key player: Melie Kerr. The 2024 Player of the Tournament has looked out of sorts recently but will be crucial to New Zealand's title defense.
Scotland
Coach: Craig Wallace | Captain: Kathryn Bryce | Best WT20WC result: Group stages (2024)
Scotland's progress has been rapid, thanks to players now able to play professionally in England. Eight squad members do so, including captain Kathryn Bryce, her sister Sarah, and leg-spinner Abtaha Maqsood, who quit dental school to pursue cricket. Expect vocal Scottish fans at this effectively home World Cup.
Key player: Kirstie Gordon. Part of England's 2018 final team, Gordon returned to Scotland last year and will be fired up to bowl against her former teammates on June 20 at Headingley.
Sri Lanka
Coach: Jamie Siddons | Captain: Chamari Athapaththu | Best WT20WC result: Group stages
Long a one-woman team, Sri Lanka are showing signs of depth. Captain Athapaththu praised opener Vishmi Gunaratne, who fought back from a knee injury, and spin bowler Kavisha Dilhari, a decent middle-order batter. They face England in the tournament opener on June 12 at Edgbaston, and the hosts underestimate them at their peril: two years ago, Sri Lanka handed England a T20 series defeat on home soil.
Key player: Chamari Athapaththu. Fresh off the plane, she smashed 94 from 58 balls in a warm-up against Pakistan, showing why she is one of the most feared batters in global cricket.
West Indies
Coach: Shane Deitz | Captain: Hayley Matthews | Best WT20WC result: Winners (2016)
It has been over a decade since West Indies triumphed at Eden Gardens, and it shows. They missed the 50-over World Cup last October, which coach Deitz spun as a positive for skills development. T20 cricket suits them better, thanks to power-hitter Deandra Dottin, but the rest need consistency to progress beyond the group stages.
Key player: Hayley Matthews. When she missed matches last summer with a shoulder injury, her team looked completely out of their depth.
Timed Out Controversy
The week saw unusual dismissals. In Edinburgh, Scotland's Ailsa Lister was run out backing up by Bangladesh spinner Sanjida Meghla. After a chat, captain Nigar Sultana Joty recalled Lister, who fell two overs later. Bangladesh won by 34 runs. In Malaysia, Bhutan's Ritshi Choden became the first woman timed out in an international match, taking over 90 seconds to reach the crease after her opener was dismissed for a golden duck. Bhutan lost by 51 runs. Nepal's Cricket Association later apologized, stating the incident 'does not reflect the values and spirit of cricket.'
Stat of the Week
996: Total balls bowled across all four innings of the 150th Lord's Test between England and New Zealand, the shortest completed Test there since 1888.
Quote of the Week
'The work he's done leading into this Test match with Sarah Taylor, who's been brilliant coming into our set-up and opening Jamie [Smith's] eyes to some of the stuff that can be worked on and needs to be implemented based on conditions, has been outstanding.' – Brendon McCullum praises fielding coach Sarah Taylor after England's 115-run win.
Memory Lane
8 June 1986: The Indian women's cricket team arrived at Heathrow for their first tour of England. The three-match Test series, sponsored by Uni-Vite, ended in controversy when India were accused of using go-slow tactics to avoid defeat, bowling just eight overs in the penultimate hour as England fell 25 runs short.
