India, Australia icons among Rubya Haider's CWC25 influences
Bangladesh's young batter opens up on competing at the big stage that is the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup.
Bangladesh batter Rubya Haider believes the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 lended her a new perspective on the international stage.
Haider made her ODI debut in Bangladesh’s opening match against Pakistan, scoring a match-winning half-century that helped the team start their World Cup campaign with a victory.
Speaking in the aftermath of the competition, the 28-year-old shared that watching the likes of India opener Smriti Mandhana and Australia captain Alyssa Healy from the other end was a surreal experience.
Smriti Mandhana shines for India | Best of league stage | CWC25
The World's No.1 ODI batter proves her credentials with another stunning Cricket World Cup campaign.
“Smriti Mandhana, I watched her batting in the last match. As a lefty, I liked her batting more because she looked cool and calm while batting," Haider told The Daily Star.
"Alyssa Healy, too and struck a ton against us. Seeing them, it felt like they could read minds or something, that's how they play cricket,” she revealed.
While Mandhana finished the tournament as India’s top scorer, Healy was among the three batters who struck two tons in the tournament.
Healy leads from the front | Best of league stage | CWC25
Australia's captain Alyssa Healy has once again risen to the occasion of a Cricket World Cup
When asked what makes those players special, Haider noted, “They have been playing cricket for many years, and experience matters a lot.
"Match scenarios and practice scenarios are different. I think as they have played more, they are more mature than us.”
Smriti Mandhana reflects on India's thrilling World Cup victory | CWC25
India opener Smriti Mandhana was thrilled after she made a strong contribution to the side's historic success at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup
Haider would play a pivotal role with the bat, scoring her maiden Cricket World Cup half-century in Bangladesh's win over Pakistan from their opening game.
On representing Bangladesh on the big stage, Haider added, “It's a different feeling because the atmosphere there is different.”
“It felt like a dream to me at that time. I got the opportunity to see many good players up close, learn about their skills, their confidence, and knowledge.
"Seeing them, it felt they thought differently about cricket; they have totally different dreams. Seeing them I realised that the expectation should be more on one's own shoulders because if I want to see myself in a big position, I must think big.”
Bangladesh seize memorable win over Pakistan | Match Highlights | CWC25
Bangladesh get their ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 campaign up and running on a high note with a seven-wicket win over Pakistan.
Making their tournament debut in the 2022 edition of the World Cup, Bangladesh had finished seventh in the eight-team table with just one win from seven matches. Although they ended in the same position this time, there were plenty of positives to take away from their recent campaign.
Bangladesh remained in contention for a knockout spot until a narrow loss to Sri Lanka ended their chances. They also went down fighting against England and South Africa, both semi-finalists, in rain-affected games.
Haider praised the team’s batting efforts and stated that their eight half-centuries during the tournament reflected clear progress from the previous edition.
“Among the good memories, we had eight fifties this time in the World Cup. Although, we were hoping for a century, but it didn't happen.
"Sobhana [Mostary] hit two fifties, [Sharmin Akter] Supta apu made two fifties, Joty scored one, Shorna [Akter] has one.”
“Overall, we were very happy that at least we could perform better in some areas than before. At the 2022 World Cup, we hit just one half-century, this time there were eight. So, I think we have improved. But we have also definitely noted down our lapses. I think if we work on those, we can achieve much better than this.”
