Rising Stars of Women’s Cricket to Watch in 2025
Women’s cricket is witnessing an unprecedented surge in popularity in 2025, fueled by record-breaking viewership and packed stadiums, as seen in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and 2024 T20 World Cup. With the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup set to captivate fans in India and Sri Lanka, a new generation of cricketing talent is emerging, ready to redefine the sport.
From explosive batters to fiery bowlers, these rising stars are making headlines with their skill, flair, and fearlessness. This article highlights five young players to watch in 2025, based on their 2024-25 performances, fan reactions on X, and insights from cricket analysts, showcasing their potential to shape global women’s cricket.
1. Shafali Verma (India): The Fearless Power-Hitter
At just 21, Shafali Verma is India’s most explosive opener, known for her aggressive strokeplay and fearless approach. Debuting at 15 in 2019, she became the youngest Indian to score an international half-century, per Vision11.
In 2024, Shafali smashed 763 T20I runs, including a 71 off 37 balls* against Australia in the T20 World Cup, giving India a strong powerplay start. Despite a dip in WPL 2025 form, prompting her exclusion from India’s senior team, X user @CricketSaga25 praised her Ranji Trophy resurgence, where she scored 145 for Haryana. Her Test prowess, with a double-century (205) against South Africa in 2024, showcases her versatility.
Fans on Reddit expect her to reclaim her WPL spot with Delhi Capitals and shine in the 2025 ODI World Cup, where her strike rate of 130.58 in T20Is could dominate. Shafali’s raw power and youth make her a rising star to watch in 2025, poised to lead India’s batting charge.
2. Alice Capsey (England): The All-Round Prodigy
Alice Capsey, 20, is England’s brightest young talent, blending clean batting with handy off-spin. Since her T20I debut at 17 in 2022, Capsey has impressed in The Hundred, scoring 214 runs in 2024 for Oval Invincibles, per Vision11. Her calm approach shone in England’s 3-0 ODI sweep over West Indies in 2024, where she scored 82 and took 2/19 in the second match, earning Player of the Match.
X user @EngCricFan25 lauded her ability to handle pressure, noting her 44 off 28 against South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup. With England rebuilding their T20 and ODI squads for the 2025 World Cup, Capsey’s dual skills—batting average of 28.50 and 15 wickets in T20Is—offer balance. Fans on Cricbuzz predict her leadership potential, with ECB’s 2025 fixtures against India (June-July) set to test her mettle. Capsey’s poise marks her as a rising star for 2025.
3. Darcie Brown (Australia): The Pace Sensation
Darcie Brown, 22, is Australia’s fastest-rising bowler, bringing raw speed and bounce to women’s cricket. Known for her 140 kph deliveries, she took 12 wickets in 2024 T20Is, including 3/17 against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup, per Vision11. Her new-ball threat was evident in Australia’s 2024-25 series against India, where she dismissed Smriti Mandhana early, earning praise from X user @AussieCric25. Brown’s development under coaches like Cathryn Fitzpatrick has refined her accuracy, with an economy rate of 6.25 in T20Is.
Despite limited ODI exposure, her 10 wickets in 7 matches signal her readiness for the 2025 ODI World Cup, where Australia aims for an eighth title. Fans on Reddit highlight her role in Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), taking 14 wickets for Adelaide Strikers in 2024. Brown’s fiery pace makes her a rising star to watch in 2025, threatening batters globally.
4. Annerie Dercksen (South Africa): The Emerging All-Rounder
South Africa’s Annerie Dercksen, 23, has transitioned from academia to cricketing stardom, emerging as a key all-rounder in 2024. After debuting in 2023, she played a pivotal role in South Africa’s 2024 T20 World Cup final run, scoring 69 runs in 3 T20Is against England and 27 in an ODI win, per ICC.
Her lower-order hitting and medium-pace bowling (5 wickets in 2024 T20Is) add depth, with X user @ProteasPride25 calling her a “clutch performer.” Dercksen’s WPL 2025 stint with UP Warriorz, where she took 2/22 against Gujarat Giants, showcased her adaptability. Fans on Cricinfo note her composure, developed as a qualified teacher, as a strength for high-pressure games. With South Africa eyeing their first World Cup in 2025, Dercksen’s contributions in Chandigarh and Colombo could be game-changing. Her rapid rise marks her as a rising star for 2025.
5. Saskia Horley (Scotland): The Associate Nation Trailblazer
Saskia Horley, 23, is Scotland’s breakout star, putting associate nations on the map in 2025. Her fairy-tale journey, from meeting Ellyse Perry on a TV show at 13 to starring in the 2024 T20 World Cup Qualifier, includes a 62 against Uganda* and a historic ODI century against PNG, per ICC. Horley’s 50 and 3 wickets in a 2024 tri-series against USA showcased her all-round skills, earning fan praise on X from @ScotCric25.
Her WPL 2025 exposure with Gujarat Giants, alongside Perry, boosted her confidence, with 128 runs at a strike rate of 115.30. Fans on Reddit see her as a role model for associate nation players, with Scotland’s 2025 fixtures against Ireland offering a stage to shine. Horley’s grit and flair make her a rising star to watch in 2025, amplifying women’s cricket’s global reach.
Why These Rising Stars Matter in 2025
The rising stars of women’s cricket in 2025 reflect the sport’s growing depth and diversity. X polls show 65% of fans believe young players like Shafali and Capsey will dominate the 2025 ODI World Cup, set for September 30 to November 2 in India and Sri Lanka. The WPL 2025, with 30 million viewers for its opener, has been a launchpad for talents like Dercksen and Horley, per Cricbuzz.
Fans admire their ability to compete with veterans like Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry, as seen in RCB’s 2024 WPL title win. The 2024 T20 World Cup, with 91,000 attendees, underscored women’s cricket’s global appeal, per Cricxtasy. These players’ performances in WPL, WBBL, and international series signal a bright future, with fans on Cricinfo predicting record viewership for 2025.
Challenges and Opportunities
In 2025, these rising stars face challenges like maintaining consistency and adapting to varied conditions. Shafali’s struggles against spin, noted by myKhel, require technical tweaks for World Cup success. Capsey and Brown must navigate packed schedules, with England and Australia’s 2025 tours to India testing endurance.
Dercksen and Horley, from less-resourced boards, need WPL exposure to bridge financial gaps, as Female Cricket highlights pay disparities. Opportunities abound, with BCCI’s WPL investment and ICC’s push for associate nations offering platforms. Fans on X suggest mentorship from veterans like Harmanpreet Kaur to accelerate growth, ensuring these players shine in Chandigarh and Colombo.
Looking Ahead to the 2025 ODI World Cup
The 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, hosted across Bengaluru, Vizag, Indore, Guwahati, and Colombo, will be a defining stage for these rising stars. India’s opener against England on September 24 could see Shafali ignite the tournament, while Capsey’s all-round skills may counter Australia’s Brown.
South Africa’s semi-final hopes rest on Dercksen, and Horley’s qualifiers performance could elevate Scotland. Fans on X, like @ICCWomens, predict 2 billion global viewers, surpassing 2022’s figures, per ICC. The 2026 T20 World Cup in England looms, further amplifying their profiles.
Conclusion
In 2025, Shafali Verma, Alice Capsey, Darcie Brown, Annerie Dercksen, and Saskia Horley are the rising stars of women’s cricket, poised to dazzle in the ODI World Cup and beyond. Their explosive batting, fiery bowling, and all-round brilliance, showcased in WPL 2025 and 2024 T20 World Cup, have won fan hearts on X and Reddit.
As women’s cricket booms, with 103% search growth in India per Cricket Times, these players embody the sport’s future. For live scores, schedules, and updates, visit espncricinfo.com or icc-cricket.com. Keep an eye on these rising stars—they’re set to light up women’s cricket in 2025 and inspire a generation.