In a historic first, the India women's national cricket team have been nominated for the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards in the World Team of the Year category after their maiden World Cup triumph.
The nomination was confirmed by Laureus Sport for Good Foundation on Tuesday, making India the first women’s cricket team ever to feature in this prestigious category.
The recognition follows their remarkable campaign, highlighted by a record-breaking 339-run chase against Australia in the semi-final — the highest successful run chase in women’s ODI history — before lifting their first World Cup title with a victory over South Africa.
Led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian side joins an elite list of nominees that includes the England women's national football team, the European Ryder Cup Team, Paris Saint-Germain and McLaren.
“In their Cricket World Cup semi-final against Australia, the India Women’s Cricket Team pulled off the highest successful run chase in women’s ODI history (339) — before winning their first title against South Africa and becoming the first women’s cricket team to be nominated for this award,” Laureus Sport said in a release.
The landmark triumph sparked celebrations across the country, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India announcing a cash reward of ₹51 crore for the squad.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia described the 2025 World Cup win as a watershed moment for Indian cricket.
“The 2025 World Cup triumph was a watershed moment not only for the team but for the entire cricketing ecosystem in our country,” Saikia said.
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“This Laureus nomination reflects the global impact of their achievement. The team has inspired a new generation of young girls to take up cricket, and we remain committed to strengthening the foundations and support systems that will sustain this success for years to come,” he added.
BCCI president Mithun Manhas said the recognition highlights the growing stature of women’s cricket in India.
“To be recognised alongside some of the most celebrated teams in global sport underscores their hard work and the rising profile of women’s cricket in India,” Manhas noted.
The Indian team now joins a distinguished group of Indian nominees in major Laureus categories, including Vinesh Phogat (2019), Neeraj Chopra (2022) and Rishabh Pant (2025).
The winners will be decided by the members of the Laureus World Sports Academy and announced at a ceremony at the Cibeles Palace in Madrid on April 20. This will be the third successive year that Madrid hosts the awards gala.
