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The recently concluded Women's ODI World Cup 2025 was an event to savor, a giver of huge cricketing entertainment and a tale of redemption of a team that beat the odds to emerge victorious in the end. It was and is a success story that's worth every penny of the fans and their time. It brought forth the tale of courage and sheer commitment of several talents that go out of their way to serve India as they should, finally reaping rewards of the fruits of labour that bear a sweet taste for not just the victorious women's team, but for the fans as well.
But the winning Team India also emerged on the right side of result due to the excellence of its bowlers; for batters alone cannot win you in the end. And as the saying goes, it is batters who win games, but bowlers who ace tournaments - is that right? And if so, then let us recollect this very event and along with it, the amazing bowling performances in previous Women's ODI tournaments.
Most wickets in Women's ODI World Cup editions
Deepti Sharma in Women's ODI World Cup 2025
One of the most committed and passionate cricketers to have emerged from India, Deepti Sharma became the headlining act of the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup, taking 22 wickets in the fifty-over edition of women's cricket's Magnum Opus event. Her spell of 5 for 39 inside 10 overs paved way for India's glorious success in the silvery event.
Sophie Ecclestone in Women's ODI World Cup 2022
A bowler that is as hard to pick as she is to score off, Ecclestone, arguably speaking, the cleverest customers ever with the white-ball was the roaring star of the 2022 Women's World Cup event in which the English cricketer picked 21 wickets. And she did that from just 9 innings and with a best bowling performance of 6 for 36.
Dane van Niekerk in Women's ODI World Cup 2017
A dagger through her heart or something like that must have been the feeling of Dane van Niekerk, when despite being elected for the training camp for the just concluded Women's World Cup, she wasn't even picked for the tournament. But then when has life been fair all the time?
Regardless, the talismanic leg spinning all rounder from South Africa picked 15 wickets from 6 games for her Protea Women in the 2017 edition of the Women's World Cup. Her breakthrough performance came against the West Indies Women, against whom she claimed 4 wickets without ever conceding a single run. Let that sink in! What's more? Her bowling average was 10 in that particular event. But here's the question - just how many of us even talk about it in the volume that such a dazzling feat deserves?
Megan Schutt in Women's ODI World Cup 2013
Committed, fiery and relentless and selfless, as well; there's so much to love and regard about Megan Schutt that time's less and adjectives, purely from the heart, too many. The legendary figure of white-ball cricket and a towering achiever for Australia has been at her best for years together. One of Adelaide's finest-ever contributions to world cricket picked 15 wickets and ended the campaign as that year's highest wicket scalper. She is still hard to score off and it's been twelve years since her greatest statistical achievement in any Women's World Cup event.
Laura Marsh in Women's ODI World Cup 2009
The often hugely undersung Marsh was the star with her off break bowling in the 2009 edition of the Women's World Cup event in which she took, lest it is forgotten, 16 wickets.
FAQs
Which bowler from England women's team has taken highest ODI wickets in a World Cup edition?
It is Laura Marsh, a former cricketer, who excelled in 2009, which is now well over a decade and a half.
Who from India has been responsible for most wickets, ever in a women's ODI World Cup?
It is Deepti Sharma from Agra, Uttar Pradesh, who picked 22 wickets, and maintained a fantastic average of 20.4 in the just-concluded Cricket World Cup.
