Laureus World Team of the Year 2026: Indian Women’s Cricket Team Nomination

The Indian Women’s Cricket Team has been officially shortlisted for the Laureus World Team of the Year 2026, In a landmark achievement for Indian sports. The  Laureus nomination was announced in Madrid. This nomination marks the first time any women's cricket team has been shortlisted for this prestigious global honor following their breathtaking victory at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, signaling a new era for women’s cricket in India. 

The Indian Women's Cricket Team, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, has been included following their historic win at the ICC Women's World Cup 2025. The "Women in Blue" are now inducted into the annals of world sport, among powerful nominees like the England Women's Football Team, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and the McLaren Formula One Team.

Laureus World Sports Award 2026

The Laureus world sports award is known as the "Oscars of Sport", established in 1999 by founding patrons Daimler (now Mercedes-Benz) and Richemont to create a platform that honors elite athletic excellence while driving social change.

It is the most prestigious individual and team honor in international athletics. It is often referred to as the "Sporting Oscars" because it transcends specific sports (like cricket or football) to honor the absolute best across all athletic disciplines worldwide.

• The Academy: Winners are not chosen by a popular vote but by the Laureus World Sports Academy, a unique jury of 69 living sporting legends (such as Sachin Tendulkar, Usain Bolt, and Martina Navratilova).

• The Mission: Beyond the trophies, the foundation operates the "Sport for Good" initiative, inspired by its first patron, Nelson Mandela, who famously said: "Sport has the power to change the world."

• The Trophy: Winners receive a 30cm-tall Cartier-designed silver and gold-finish statuette representing the striving human form.

Indian Women's Team Nomination: 

This recognition from the Laureus World Sports Academy underscores the squad’s incredible resilience and history-defining statistics:

• World Cup Champions: India clinched their maiden ODI World Cup title in 2025, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final at DY Patil Stadium.

• Record-Breaking Performance: In the semi-final against Australia, India pulled off the highest successful run chase in women's ODI history, scoring 339 to stun the defending champions.

• National Impact: Following the win, the BCCI announced a landmark ₹51 crore reward, highlighting the team's role in inspiring a new generation of female athletes.

Team’s Shortlist for the Laureus World Team 2026:

The Indian squad is competing in a "Group of Death" featuring the most dominant teams of the last calendar year:

Significance for Indian Sports

This nomination is not just a win for cricket, but a massive leap for the visibility of Indian women athletes. As BCCI President Mithun Manhas noted, this recognition underscores the growing stature of women’s cricket in India.

The team joins an exclusive club of Indian athletes who have been recognized by Laureus, including Sachin Tendulkar (Sporting Moment 2020), Neeraj Chopra (Breakthrough 2022), and Rishabh Pant (Comeback 2025).

When are the Winners Announced?

The final winners will be selected by the 69 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy via a secret ballot. The grand gala ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Cibeles Palace in Madrid on April 20, 2026.

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