Women's T20 World Cup 2026 winner odds: Who are the favourites to win?

The 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup gets underway on June 12, with 12 nations playing 33 matches across seven venues in England and Wales over 24 days.

The tournament is in its 10th edition and sees England host for the first time since the inaugural event in 2009.

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Australia head into the showpiece sitting at the top of the ICC Women's T20I Team Rankings. New Zealand, meanwhile, are the defending champions, having won the 2024 edition in the UAE while India and South Africa are also in the mix to cause a major upset.

Favourites to win the Women's T20 World Cup

Australia head into the tournament as the clear market leaders. Here are the pre-tournament outright winner odds according to Sky Bet:

The gap between Australia and the rest of the field is significant.

India at 7/2 represent the main challenger in the market, with England's home advantage keeping them close behind at 9/2.

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Why Australia are most likely to win Women's T20 WC

The case for Australia is built on a record no other side in women's T20 cricket has come close to matching.

They are the most successful team in the tournament's history, having won the title six times — in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2023. They are targeting a record-extending seventh world title in England.

Australia are also currently placed at the top of the ICC Women's T20I Team Rankings and are in superb form, having recently won a three-match T20I series against West Indies 3-0.

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The squad is stacked: Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll are expected to provide aggressive starts at the top, while Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath offer stability and finishing power through the middle overs.

The bowling attack is equally loaded, with the pace spearheaded by Megan Schutt and Kim Garth alongside allrounders Sutherland, McGrath, Perry and Nicola Carey.

The spin resources, led by captain Sophie Molineux, vice-captain Ashleigh Gardner and leggies Georgia Wareham and Alana King, are expected to be particularly effective in English conditions.

Veteran all-rounder Perry, who has been part of every Australian squad since the inaugural Women's T20 World Cup in 2009, is set to become the first player to make 50 appearances in the tournament. That kind of experience in knockout cricket is invaluable.

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Who and what could stop Australia winning?

Australia have lost in the semi-finals in their last two World Cup appearances. Schutt admitted the motivation this time is "revenge, or spite," which tells its own story.

New captain Sophie Molineux lost her first series in charge to India 2-1, and the Darcie Brown omission leaves a genuine question mark over the pace attack if things get tight in the knockouts.

Meanwhile, England on home soil, with full crowds at venues like Lord's and Headingley, will generate an atmosphere that no rankings table or selection policy can prepare for.

(Getty)

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Key players who could decide the Women's T20 World Cup

• Ellyse Perry (Australia) arrives at her 10th World Cup chasing a seventh title, a record that no player in the history of the game has come close to matching.

• Smriti Mandhana (India) has the ability to take any bowling attack apart inside the first six overs and, on her day, makes chasing targets look routine.

• Lauren Bell (England) will be the player the hosts will build their tournament around on pitches that were made for her.

• Amelia Kerr (New Zealand) showed in 2024 that she can win a final almost single-handedly with bat and ball, and the defending champions will go as far as she takes them.

• Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) has been the most destructive opener in the women's game this year, and South Africa will need her firing early if they are to reach a second consecutive final.

• Hayley Matthews (West Indies) will be crucial if the Windies are to cause the upset everyone suspects they are capable of. Matthews is close to unplayable when the conditions and the moment suit her.

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Expert predictions for the Women's T20 World Cup

The expert consensus going into the tournament has Australia, England, India and defending champions, New Zealand, as the four semi-finalists, with this edition widely tipped as the most open in the competition's history.

Here's our expert picks:

• Australia are expected to be the hardest side to beat across the full tournament.

• Most pundits are pointing to Beth Mooney as the likely leading run-scorer.

• Annabel Sutherland is a popular Player of the Tournament pick given her dual-threat value in English conditions.

🏆 Our overall final prediction: Australia to beat India in the final.

Best value bets for the Women's T20 World Cup

England have a favourable draw in Group 2 alongside New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Ireland and Scotland and we expect them to top it.

FAQs

Who is the favourite to win the Women's T20 World Cup 2026? Australia are the outright favourites, with best market odds.

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When does the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup start? The tournament runs from June 12 to July 5, 2026. It is hosted across seven venues in England and Wales, with the final at Lord's.

Who are the defending champions? New Zealand are the defending champions, having won the 2024 edition in the UAE.

How many times have Australia won the Women's T20 World Cup? Australia have won the title six times, in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2023.

Do favourites usually win the Women's T20 World Cup? Australia have won six of nine editions, which broadly validates backing the favourite. New Zealand in 2024 and West Indies in 2016 are the main exceptions.