Indian Women's Cricket Team Makes History with First-Ever Laureus World Team of the Year Nomination

• Indian women's cricket team receives historic first-ever nomination for 2026 Laureus World Team of the Year Award

• First women's cricket team nominated following their maiden World Cup victory

• Set record for highest successful ODI run chase (339) in semi-final against Australia

• Competing against elite teams including England Women's football and PSG

• BCCI awarded Rs 51 crore prize money for their achievement

In a groundbreaking achievement for Indian cricket, the national women's team has earned a nomination for the coveted 2026 Laureus World Team of the Year Award. This historic recognition comes on the heels of their remarkable World Cup championship victory—the first in the team's history.

Laureus Sport announced the nomination on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone as they become the first women's cricket team ever to receive this prestigious honor. The nomination celebrates their extraordinary World Cup campaign, highlighted by an unprecedented feat in the semi-final against Australia where they completed the highest successful run chase in women's One Day International history, chasing down a mammoth target of 339 runs.

The squad, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, finds itself in elite company among the nominees, competing against sporting powerhouses including the England Women's football team, the European Ryder Cup team, French football giants Paris Saint-Germain, and Formula 1's McLaren racing team.

Emphasizing the significance of this achievement, Laureus Sport stated in their official 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."

The team's triumph sparked nationwide celebrations across India, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) acknowledging their accomplishment through a substantial cash reward of Rs 51 crore for the championship-winning squad.

This nomination adds the Indian women's cricket team to a small but growing list of Indian athletes who have received nominations in major Laureus categories, joining previous nominees Vinesh Phogat (2019), Neeraj Chopra (2022), and Rishabh Pant (2025).

The ultimate winners will be determined by the Laureus World Sports Academy's jury of sporting legends and announced during a gala ceremony scheduled for April 20 at Madrid's iconic Cibeles Palace. This marks the third straight year that the Spanish capital will host this prestigious sporting celebration.