Women's World Cup 2025 Returns with New Records Up for Grabs

By: WE staff | Monday, 22 September 2025

• The Women's World Cup is coming back to India and Sri Lanka, the ICC says
• New Zealand great Debbie Hockley has the record overall tournament run tally with 1,501 runs since 2000
• India's Mithali Raj, with 1,321 runs, only failed to break Hockley's record

Women's World Cup is coming back to India and Sri Lanka, where there are a number of longstanding records on the line, says the ICC.

New Zealand's Debbie Hockley is the record holder for most runs in the history of the World Cup with 1,501, a figure that has never been overtaken since the 2000 championship.

India's Mithali Raj at 1,321 runs was not able to break her record, but veteran Kiwi opener Suzie Bates at 322 runs behind has opportunities to break the record over at least seven matches.

India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (876 runs) and England's Nat Sciver-Brunt (805 runs) are the other two in the top 12 run-getters and can get nearer to the number one position if they perform well.

Another record that has stood the test of time is Belinda Clark's 229 not out off Denmark in Mumbai in the 1997 edition, which might come under scrutiny considering bat-friendly conditions.

Four have jointly held the record for the most centuries in the Women's World Cup with four each. Nat Sciver- and Bates are playing this edition and have the potential to be the first to hit a fifth century, while Harmanpreet, with three centuries, is also within the reach of the record.

On the bowling front, India's Jhulan Goswami is the pacesetter with 43 World Cup wickets to her credit, although Australia's Megan Schutt (34 wickets), South Africa's Marizanne Kapp (32), and Australia's Ellyse Perry (31) are sufficiently close to overtake her.

There are five players—Bates, Sophie Devine, Kapp, Perry, and Harmanpreet Kaur—who will be featuring in their fifth World Cup, further enhancing the historic aura of the tournament.

The record of the best-ever bowling figures in a Women's World Cup match continues to be New Zealand's Jackie Lord's 6/10 against India in 1982.

Only three others have managed six-wicket hauls: Glenys Page (6/20), Sophie Ecclestone (6/36), and Anya Shrubsole (6/46). It is an important record to watch out for in this version.