• February 16, 2026

Smriti Mandhana crowned BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2025

Smriti Mandhana crowned BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2025

New Delhi, Feb 16: Star India batter Smriti Mandhana, a key architect of India’s historic 2025 Women’s World Cup triumph, was on Monday named the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2025 at a glittering ceremony in the capital.

Rising chess star Divya Deshmukh clinched the Emerging Player of the Year award after her landmark FIDE Women’s World Cup victory at just 20. Para-athlete Preethi Pal was honoured as Para-Sportswoman of the Year for winning two bronze medals in track and field at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, while shooting legend Anjali Bhagwat received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her pioneering career, including becoming India’s first woman shooter to reach an Olympic final.

Mandhana, currently touring Australia with the Indian team for multi-format bilateral assignments, thanked the BBC in a video message. “2025 was a special year for women’s cricket, especially with the World Cup towards the end. I’m happy I could contribute and help India win matches,” she said.

At 29, the elegant left-hander is already among the game’s greats, boasting the second-highest number of centuries in women’s ODIs and ranking third in total runs among active players worldwide. Hailing from Sangli in Maharashtra, Mandhana credits her father and brother—both district-level cricketers—for inspiring her journey. In September last year, she smashed a 50-ball century against Australia, the fastest ODI hundred by an Indian (men or women), eclipsing Virat Kohli’s previous mark.

The winners were chosen by a distinguished jury featuring Leander Paes, Deepa Malik and Anju Bobby George. Congratulating the honourees, Jonathan Munro, CEO of BBC News, said the winners exemplified sporting excellence and the power of human endeavour.

The ceremony also celebrated changemakers and teams reshaping Indian sport. Special recognitions went to Ekta Bhyan, Deepthi Jeevanji and Preethi Pal for their standout performances at the World Para Athletics Championships; the Indian Women’s Cricket Team for the Blind for their inspiring World Cup victory; and the Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team for their dominant World Cup win.

Further honours included the BBC Changemakers of the Year 2025, the Indian Women’s Ice Hockey Team for breaking barriers in a non-traditional sport, former national hockey captain Rajbir Kaur, current India international Savita Punia, and grassroots champion Paani Devi.