India has etched its name in cricket history by winning the Women’s World Cup 2025, defeating South Africa in a closely fought final. The victory, secured by successfully defending 298 at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai, brought captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana to tears. This triumph marks the culmination of a long journey and puts an end to past disappointments.
The final moments of the match were filled with intense emotion, as Kaur and Mandhana embraced, their tears reflecting the years of hard work and the weight of expectation lifted. This maiden ICC women’s trophy signifies a monumental achievement for Indian cricket, overcoming the sting of previous final losses in 2017 and 2020, and semi-final exits in T20 World Cups.
The Indian bowlers were the heroes in the defense of the total. Deepti Sharma delivered a match-winning spell, capturing five crucial wickets and breaking the backbone of the South African chase. Shafali Verma also chipped in with vital breakthroughs, ensuring that the opposition never got too close to the target. India secured a 52-run victory.
Batting first, India had set a challenging target of 298 for 6. The innings was anchored by explosive half-centuries from Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma. Verma smashed 87 off just 78 balls, while Sharma contributed a valuable 58. The foundation was laid early with a significant 104-run opening partnership between Verma and Mandhana.
Individual brilliance was recognized at the presentation ceremony. Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match for her outstanding contributions in the final. Deepti Sharma’s exceptional all-round performance across the tournament, amassing 212 runs and taking 22 wickets, saw her rightfully claim the Player of the Tournament award.