NAVI MUMBAI: The wait is finally over. India scripted history on Sunday night as the Women in Blue lifted their maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup trophy, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling final at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.
The victory marked the culmination of a dream campaign for the hosts, who had dominated the tournament from the start and capped it with a fitting finale powered by Shafali Verma’s redemption story and Deepti Sharma’s all-round brilliance.
Shafali, who made a dramatic return to the squad just before the knockouts, set the tone for India’s triumph with a blistering 87 off 78 balls — her highest ODI score — and followed it up with two vital wickets during South Africa’s chase. Deepti Sharma, who was later named Player of the Tournament, delivered a career-defining performance, scoring a run-a-ball 58 and claiming 5 wickets for 39 runs to seal the win for India.
India’s total of 298 for 7 — their third-highest in ODIs without a century — proved too much for South Africa, who were bowled out for 246 despite a fighting 101 from captain Laura Wolvaardt.
“This is the start. We wanted to break this barrier. And our next plan is to make this a habit. We were waiting for it, now this moment has come. So many big occasions are coming, and we want to keep improving. This is not the end, just the beginning,” said an elated Harmanpreet Kaur while lifting the trophy.
“We felt we could win from the first ball itself because the way our team was playing in the last three games, a lot of things changed for us, especially our self-belief. We have played good cricket for a long time. We knew what we could do as a team. We knew there would be tough conditions for batting, but credit goes to Smriti [Mandhana] and Shafali [Verma]; they handled the first 10 overs very well,” Kaur later said at the post-match presser.
Earlier in the day, Shafali and Smriti Mandhana (45) gave India a flying start with a century partnership before South Africa clawed back with timely breakthroughs. Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur steadied the innings, while Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh (34) added crucial runs at the death to push India close to the 300-mark.
South Africa’s chase began steadily, with Wolvaardt keeping them in the game. However, the introduction of Shafali’s part-time spin turned the tide — she dismissed Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp in quick succession. Deepti then took control, running through the middle and lower order with a spell of precision and guile.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team on X, posting: “A spectacular win by the Indian team in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Finals. Their performance in the final was marked by great skill and confidence. The team showed exceptional teamwork and tenacity throughout the tournament. Congratulations to our players. This historic win will motivate future champions to take up sports.”
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar also hailed the victory, writing: “1983 inspired an entire generation to dream big and chase those dreams. Today, our Women’s Cricket Team has done something truly special. They have inspired countless young girls across the country to pick up a bat and ball, take the field and believe that they too can lift that trophy one day. This is a defining moment in the journey of Indian women’s cricket. Well done, Team India. You’ve made the whole nation proud.”
For Deepti Sharma, the night was doubly special. Apart from her five-wicket haul in the final, she ended the tournament as the most valuable player, contributing consistently with both bat and ball. “She has been the glue of this team,” said captain Harmanpreet later at the presentation. “Every time we needed her, she delivered — just like a true champion.”
With this victory, India not only lifted their first-ever Women’s World Cup but also cemented their place as a global force in women’s cricket. The scenes at DY Patil Stadium — players in tears, fans chanting, tricolours waving — symbolized the emotional weight of a triumph that had been decades in the making.
As fireworks lit up the Mumbai sky, one thing was clear — this was more than a win. It was a watershed moment for Indian women’s cricket, a victory that will inspire generations to dream, believe, and conquer.
