India won the 2025 Women's World Cup by defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling final at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai.
After being on par in the 299-run chase for a major part of the innings, South Africa crumbled following captain Laura Wolvaardt's dismissal for 101 in the 42nd over. From 220-6, they collapsed to 246 all out despite Nadine de Klerk's late blows, handing India their first ever ICC trophy in women's cricket.
Deepti Sharma led the way with the ball for India, snaring five wickets for 39 runs following up her 58-ball 58 with the bat in the first innings. In the process, she became the first player to score a fifty and take a five-for in the same Women's World Cup match. It wasn't enough to earn her the Player of the Match award, as her all-round brilliance was overshadowed by Shafali Verma's.
Verma came into the squad only after the league stage following an unfortunate injury to Pratika Rawal. She gave India a rolicking start with the bat in the final, making a career-best score 87 off 78and stitching a 104-run opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana (45 off 58), before being the surprise act with the ball, where she ended up bowling seven overs after picking two big wickets in her first two.
In the first innings, India had looked set to reach close to 350 at one point, but tight bowling from Nonkululeko Mlaba (1-47) and Ayabonga Khaka (3-58) restricted them to 298-6. Their decision to hold back Richa Ghosh at the death also raised eyebrows as she only arrived at the crease with less than seven overs remaining.
For South Africa, Wolvaardt led the way right from the start, taking calculated risks in the powerplay and then digging in to anchor the innings through the middle overs. But she didn't find enough support other than Annerie Dercksen's 37-ball 35 from No.7.
The winning moment for India, rather poetically, came with captain Harmanpreet Kaur taking de Klerk's catch off Deepti's bowling – who was named Player of the Tournament – sending the crowd and millions watching into jubilation.
Final, India Women vs South Africa Women
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Reactions and congratulatory messages have been pouring in since the result.
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