Women's Cricket ODI Evolution: Scoring Surge and India's World Cup Triumph Define 2025

The year 2025 was a watershed moment for Women's One Day International (ODI) cricket, highlighted by record-breaking scoring rates, evolving tactical approaches, and India's triumphant World Cup campaign held in India and Sri Lanka. The Women's 50-over game saw more than 90 ODIs played globally between 16 teams, the most in a single year.

A significant transformation occurred in scoring dynamics. The scoring rate exceeded five runs per over for the first time, reaching 5.08. The average runs per wicket also peaked at 28.85. First-innings totals regularly surpassed 250, with a record 25 instances of teams posting 300-plus scores, a substantial increase from 10 in 2024. Individual batting performances mirrored this trend, with 48 centuries recorded, surpassing the previous high by 19. Aggressive batting led to a record 350 sixes, more than double the 2022 number. India led scoring rate with 6.25 runs per six balls, closely followed by Australia (6.11). South Africa's batters scored 13 centuries, followed by India with 11 centuries in 2025.

Tactical approaches also shifted, with chasing becoming a preferred strategy due to enhanced batting depth and power-hitting capabilities. Eight successful chases of targets exceeding 250 were achieved, including two over 300 in the World Cup. Defending totals below 280 became increasingly challenging. Captains showed greater confidence in their batting lineups, trusting them to manage pressure and accelerate scoring late in innings.

India emerged as a dominant force, setting the pace with aggressive batting and consistent performance. They posted a record-breaking 435/5 against Ireland, among the highest totals in women's ODI history. India scored nine 300-plus totals in 2025, the most by any team in a calendar year. India Women won 15 out of 23 ODIs this year, their win percentage of 68.2 was the second best after Australia's (84.61). India's average run per wicket was 43.09 - the best by any team in a calendar year where they played a minimum of 20 ODI matches.

Smriti Mandhana became the first woman to surpass 1000 runs in a calendar year, amassing 1362 runs at an average of 61.9 and a strike rate of 109.92, including five centuries. Her five hundreds this year in 2025 are the joint-most by a woman batter in an ODI calendar year, along with Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt - who also scored five centuries each in 2025. She also set a new record for the most sixes in a calendar year, with 32. Laura Wolvaardt also crossed the 1000-run mark, finishing with 1174 runs.

Spin bowlers played a crucial role, accounting for approximately 58 percent of wickets. They adapted by using variations and attacking fields to control the middle overs, prioritizing wicket-taking over run containment. India's spin bowlers took 108 wickets, contributing significantly to the team's success. Deepti's 39 wickets this year in ODIs are the most by a bowler in any Women's ODI calendar year.

India's World Cup victory was the culmination of strategic planning and resilience. They successfully chased a 339-run target against Australia in the semi-final, the highest successful chase in women's ODI history, and defeated South Africa in the final. India became the fourth nation to win the Women's ODI World Cup. Deepti became the first woman to score 200+ runs and take 20+ wickets in a Women's ODI tournament, and the first ever to score a fifty and take five wickets in a World Cup knockout.

Editor’s note: This article was independently written by the Scoopliner Editorial Team using publicly available information.