Meg Lanning, the Australian cricket legend, has a big shoutout for hosts India ahead of the Women’s ODI World Cup starting September 30. The former skipper believes India could be the biggest challengers in this high-stakes tournament, even though Australia has ruled the roost for years.
Speaking to ICC Digital, Lanning kept it real: “I know Australia has dominated a lot of it, but it’s certainly not a foregone conclusion.” She added, “I’d still love Australia to win obviously, but I think India are the main competitors. I think India are a significant challenge to everybody.”
Lanning praised India’s talent pool, saying they’re on par with the best. “Talent-wise, they’re as good as anyone, and I think they are really starting to understand how to win,” she noted. That’s a key shift for the Indian women’s cricket team, which has been building momentum.
Remember that thrilling 2017 Women’s ODI World Cup semi-final? Lanning captained Australia back then, but a gritty India knocked them out. The hosts went all the way to the final at Lord’s, losing narrowly to England in a nail-biter. It showed India’s potential to go the distance.
With five World Cup titles under her belt—including four ICC Women’s T20 World Cups and the 2022 ODI crown—Lanning knows a thing or two about performing under pressure. She highlighted India’s strong leadership: “They are well led by Harmanpreet Kaur and there are really good players who have got some good experience now. So I expect them to do well.”
In fact, Lanning warned that if India clicks, no one stands a chance. “And if they put it together and play well, I don’t think anyone can actually get close to them. They are very good.”
But Lanning doesn’t see India as the only threat. She tipped other teams to shine in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup. England always brings their A-game, South Africa has stepped up in recent editions by peaking at the right moments, and New Zealand? “You can never write off New Zealand too,” she said. They proved that in the 2024 T20 World Cup by timing their run perfectly. That’s the magic of women’s cricket—plenty of competitive sides ready to surprise.
As defending champions, Australia kicks off against New Zealand on October 1 in Indore. Meanwhile, India opens the tournament against Sri Lanka on September 30 in Guwahati. Fans, get ready for an exciting Women’s ODI World Cup packed with talent and drama!
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