The Indian women’s cricket team has been nominated for the Laureus World Team of the Year 2026 award following their maiden Women’s ODI World Cup triumph last year.
Established in 2000, the Laureus World Sports Awards recognises athletes for sporting excellence across different categories every year. The 2026 edition marks the 26th anniversary of the awards.
The Laureus World Team of the Year award recognises a side that has produced a season of supreme and history-defining excellence on the global sporting stage.
The Indian women’s cricket team delivered a breakthrough triumph on home soil by winning their maiden ODI World Cup title last year.
India recorded the highest successful run chase (339) in women’s ODI history in a dramatic semi‑final win over Australia before defeating South Africa in the final en route to the historic title.
Despite three consecutive group-stage losses to South Africa, Australia and England that took them on the brink of elimination from the tournament, India rallied to lift the trophy.
India became the first women’s cricket team to be shortlisted for the Team of the Year award.
Among the other Laureus World Team of the Year 2026 nominees are the England women’s football team, who became only the second side in history to successfully defend the UEFA Women’s European Championship, and Paris Saint-Germain, who won their maiden UEFA Champions League crown as part of a six-trophy campaign in 2025.
They are joined by the European Ryder Cup Team, who lifted a record-extending 16th Ryder Cup title; the McLaren F1 team, who clinched a landmark 10th Constructors’ Championship with six races to spare and the Oklahoma City Thunder, who matched the Chicago Bulls’ 1996-97 regular-season wins record before claiming their first NBA title.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led team’s nomination is the third time that Indian cricket has been featured at the Laureus World Sports Awards.
Sachin Tendulkar received the Laureus Sporting Moment Award in 2020 for his victory lap after India’s 2011 ODI World Cup triumph, while Rishabh Pant was nominated for the Laureus Comeback of the Year award last year.
Other Indians include wrestler Vinesh Phogat, shortlisted for the Laureus Comeback of the Year in 2019, and javelin throw ace Neeraj Chopra, nominated for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year for his Tokyo 2020 Olympics title.
Laureus World Sports Awards 2026 winners will be decided by a 69-member Laureus World Sports Academy through a secret ballot and announced in Madrid on April 20.
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