- By Vishal Pushkar
- Tue, 03 Mar 2026 07:56 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Laureus World Team of the Year Award: The Indian women's cricket squad, which won its maiden 50-over Cricket World Cup last year, has been nominated for the prestigious 2026 Laureus World Team of the Year Award on Tuesday. Interestingly, this is the first instance for a women's cricket team to receive this nomination as a recognition for their exceptional performance in the marquee event.
Other nominees include the likes of England Women's football team, the European Ryder Cup squad, the French football league's Paris Saint-Germain, and the McLaren Formula 1.
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Laureus Sport said in a press release: "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 are the first women's cricket team to be nominated for this Award."
BCCI President Reacts:
Mithun Manhas, the president of the Indian cricket board, said the nomination underscores the hard work of the women's team.
"To be recognised alongside some of the most celebrated teams in global sport underscores their hard work and the growing stature of women's cricket in India," Manhas said.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia noted that the success of the Indian women's team marks a pivotal moment in the nation's cricketing landscape.
"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 in a statement.
"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.
The team joins a select group of Indian athletes nominated for the main Laureus categories, including Vinesh Phogat (2019), Neeraj Chopra (2022), and Rishabh Pant (2025).
The award winners will be decided by the sporting jury at a gala event to be held at the Cibeles Palace in Madrid on April 20.
Inputs from Agency