Madrid

A breakthrough year for women's cricket in India has been recognised by the Laureus World Sports Awards, with the Nominees for sport's most prestigious honours revealed today, according to a release.

The India Women's Cricket Team is shortlisted for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award in recognition of their maiden ICC Women's Cricket World Cup triumph - and their inspirational performances that have enthralled the cricketing world.

 

They will compete with five sporting teams who made their mark in 2025, each staking their claim to win the iconic Laureus statuette. Nominees from eight Awards categories will attend Madrid's Cibeles Palace for a gala event at which the winners - chosen by the Laureus World Sports Academy - will be revealed.

 

In 2025, the India Women's Cricket Team delivered a breakthrough triumph on home soil, winning their first ICC Women's Cricket World Cup title in Mumbai.

 

They recorded the highest successful run chase in women's ODI history in a dramatic semi-final win over Australia, before defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final to spark celebrations across the country.

 

Despite three consecutive group-stage losses to South Africa, Australia and England taking them to the brink of elimination, India rallied to reach the final for the third time, where a dominant performance sealed their first World Cup title.

 

Their nomination is the third time Indian cricket has been featured at the Laureus World Sports Awards. Sachin Tendulkar - a Laureus Academy Member - received the Laureus Sporting Moment Award in 2020, for his victory lap following India's win in the 2011 Cricket World Cup; and last year, Rishabh Pant was nominated in the Comeback of the Year category, as was the wrestler Vinesh Phogat in 2019, while Neeraj Chopra was shortlisted for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award in 2022 following his victory in the Olympic javelin competition.

 

Five equally inspirational stories of teamwork and resilience make up this year's Laureus World Team of the Year Award shortlist. The England Women's Football Team became only the second team to defend the UEFA Women's European Championship, with a penalty shootout victory over reigning world champions Spain.

 

In the US, the European Ryder Cup Team claimed a 16th Ryder Cup title: Europe's first away win since 2012. The McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team secured a 10th World Constructors' Championship with six races to spare, with driver Lando Norris sealing the World Drivers' Championship. Oklahoma City Thunder matched the 1996/97 Chicago Bulls' regular-season win record on the way to a first NBA championship.

 

In the UEFA Champions League final, Paris Saint-Germain recorded a 50 victory over Inter Milan, as part of a six-trophy year in 2025.

 

Tennis World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz leads the Nominees for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award, after winning Grand Slam titles at the French Open and US Open. Alongside Alcaraz are his rival Jannik Sinner, who triumphed at the Australian Open and Wimbledon; Ousmane Dembele, Paris Saint-Germain's top goal-scorer and the Ballon d'Or winner; Mondo Duplantis, who went undefeated while winning the world title and setting four new world records; MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez, who ended a six-year wait for the crown; and Tadej Pogacar, who sealed a third career yellow jersey at the 2025 Tour de France.

 

Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Nominee Jannik Sinner said, "Looking back at 2025, it was a year where I'm incredibly proud of the work we put in. Defending my Australian Open title was a great start, and reaching all four Grand Slam finals, especially winning Wimbledon, was truly special. I'm incredibly grateful for my team and everyone who supports me. And to the media, thank you for the Laureus nomination. It's an honour to be considered for the most prestigious Award in sport alongside such an amazing group of athletes."

 

The 2024 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year, Aitana Bonmati, is nominated again, following a domestic treble for FC Barcelona and an unprecedented third Ballon d'Or trophy. A trio of World Athletics Championships stars join Bonmati on the shortlist: Melissa Jefferson-Wooden became only the second woman in history to win the 'Triple Crown' with gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay; middle-distance legend Faith Kipyegon secured a record fourth World Championships gold in the 1500m; and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone broke the World Championships 400m record before winning relay gold.

 

Swimming legend Katie Ledecky brought her World Aquatics Championships medal tally up to a historic 30, and tennis World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka stayed on top throughout 2025 thanks to a US Open title and three Grand Slam final appearances.

 

Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Nominee Aitana Bonmati said, "I'd like to thank Laureus and their panel of global sports media for nominating me for this Award for the third time in a row. It's a pleasure to be recognised, but this nomination wouldn't be possible without my teammates and all of the staff and coaches for my club and national team. These Awards help us athletes give visibility to our own causes: thanks to Laureus, my work and the achievements of my fellow Nominees can inspire girls and boys around the world, and that's a huge source of pride for me."

 

In the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award, teenage winger Desire Doue is recognised after scoring twice in the UEFA Champions League final for Paris Saint-Germain, alongside a second-placed finish in the 2025 FIFA Kopa Trophy voting.

 

His fellow Nominees include 19-year-old João Fonseca, who debuted in the main draw of all four of tennis' Grand Slam events; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who became the fourth player in NBA history to be named regular season MVP, Finals MVP and Scoring Champion in the same season; Luke Littler, who became the youngest-ever PDC World Darts champion and World No.1; Formula One driver Lando Norris, who pipped four-time champion Max Verstappen to a first World Drivers' Championship; and Yu Zidi who, at just 12-years-old, became the World Aquatics Championships' youngest medallist with a bronze in the 4x200m relay.

 

The Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award celebrates stories of resilience, including that of Amanda Anisimova, who returned to tennis after stepping away to protect her mental health and went on to reach both the Wimbledon and US Open finals.

 

Egan Bernal recovered from a near-fatal crash in 2022 to win a Grand Tour stage in 2025, while Rory McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam with a first Masters victory to end an 11-year wait for another Major.

 

Triple jumper Yulimar Rojas won a bronze medal in the Triple Jump at the World Championships just a year after undergoing surgery for a torn Achilles tendon, and England captain Leah Williamson lifted both the UEFA Women's Champions League and European Championship trophies one year on from returning to football after an ACL injury. Simon Yates completes the shortlist, the 2025 Giro d'Italia winner overcoming the memories of losing a 38-minute lead in 2018.

 

"Two former Award winners - and a three-time Nominee - are shortlisted for this year's Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award. 2019 and 2020 winner Chloe Kim won an eighth X Games gold to become the competition's most decorated woman; 2025 winner Tom Pidcock sealed a first Grand Tour podium at the 2025 Vuelta a Espana; and skateboarder Rayssa Leal received a fourth Nomination after winning X Games gold and a Street world title.

 

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