Indian Women Will Be Hard to Beat in Future, Says Ashleigh Gardner After World Cup Win

Australia all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner has issued a strong warning to the rest of the cricketing world, stating that the Indian women’s team is set to become one of the toughest sides to beat over the next five to ten years. Gardner’s comments come in the wake of India’s historic Women’s World Cup triumph at home, a victory that marked a defining moment in the rise of Indian women’s cricket.

Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian team overcame a challenging mid-tournament phase before producing a remarkable performance in the final against South Africa in Navi Mumbai. Defying pressure and expectations, India lifted their maiden World Cup trophy in front of home fans, a moment that has already begun reshaping perceptions of their long-term potential.

One of India’s most significant statements during the tournament came against Australia, traditionally the dominant force in women’s cricket. Chasing a daunting target of 339 runs, India pulled off a sensational run chase with nine balls to spare, handing Australia a rare defeat on the global stage. Gardner, who was part of the Australian squad during the tournament, admitted that India’s rapid improvement has been impossible to ignore.

“India’s going to be one of those teams in the next five to ten years that are going to be very hard to beat,” Gardner said, reflecting on the transformation she has witnessed over recent seasons. She described the prospect as both exciting for the growth of the game and intimidating from an Australian perspective.

“It’s an exciting prospect, it’s scary as an Australian, but knowing that the game is growing so quickly and rapidly here, it’s fantastic to see,” Gardner added, underlining how India’s rise is contributing to the global development of women’s cricket.

Despite acknowledging India’s upward trajectory, Gardner was quick to assert Australia’s confidence in their own standards. The experienced all-rounder reiterated that she still considers Australia the benchmark team in women’s cricket, stressing that World Cups are ultimately decided by performances in high-pressure moments.

“I’m not denying that I still think we’re the best team in the world. World Cups are about winning in those high-pressure situations,” Gardner said. She added that, in her view, Australia would still prevail in the majority of head-to-head contests against any top side, even after the setback against India.

“If we played any team ten times, I’d say we’d probably win eight or nine times. That might sound cocky, but I genuinely believe we are still the best team in the world,” she explained, while also acknowledging how challenging India proved to be throughout the tournament.

The rivalry between the two sides is set to intensify in the coming months. India are scheduled to tour Australia for a full multi-format series, including three T20Is, three ODIs and a one-off Test starting February 15. The series will serve as crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, where India and Australia are slated to face each other again on June 28.

With a World Cup title secured and a confident core of players emerging, India’s women’s team is no longer viewed as an underdog. Gardner’s assessment reflects a growing belief within the global cricket community that India’s rise is not a one-off success, but the beginning of a sustained era at the top of women’s cricket.