India has finally crowned itself the champion of women’s cricket on the world stage, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 final on November 2, 2025, at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
This historic victory marks India’s maiden ODI World Cup title, exorcising the demons of two previous final losses and cementing their place in cricketing history.
India’s Commanding Innings
After South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first, India demonstrated remarkable batting prowess to post 298/7 in their full 50 overs. This total proved to be the second-highest score ever recorded in a Women’s ODI World Cup final, showcasing India’s aggressive intent and execution on the grandest stage.
The foundation for India’s strong total was laid by the opening partnership between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, who combined for an impressive 104-run stand off 100 balls. This opening salvo provided India with the perfect platform to build a formidable score. Shafali Verma emerged as the top scorer with a brilliant 87 runs off 78 deliveries, studded with aggressive strokes and excellent placement. Her innings was particularly crucial as she received a let-off when dropped by Anneke Bosch on 55, a miss that proved enormously costly for South Africa.
Smriti Mandhana contributed 45 runs to the opening stand, falling just short of a half-century but playing a crucial role in building momentum. Her performance was particularly significant as she accumulated 434 runs throughout the tournament, breaking legendary Mithali Raj’s previous record of 409 runs set during the 2017 World Cup edition. This achievement highlights her consistency and importance to the Indian team’s campaign.
Deepti Sharma provided the second major contribution with a valuable 58 runs, steadying the innings during a phase when India had reached 223/3 but needed acceleration. Her partnership with the middle order proved instrumental in pushing India’s total beyond 290. Richa Ghosh delivered a spirited cameo of 34 runs off just 24 balls, injecting late momentum into the innings and ensuring India got to a competitive total near the 300-run mark.
South Africa’s bowling attack, despite restricting India below 300, had its moments. Ayabonga Khaka was the standout performer for the Proteas, taking 3 wickets for 58 runs, while Nonkululeko Mlaba, Nadine de Klerk, and Chloe Tryon each picked up a wicket. However, the inability to take early wickets and some costly drops meant South Africa couldn’t restrict India more severely.
South Africa’s Valiant Chase Falls Short
Set with a target of 299 runs, South Africa began their chase with cautious optimism, opening with captain Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits. The opening pair initially showed promise, putting together a 52-run partnership that gave the Proteas a solid foundation. However, a sharp direct hit from India’s Amanjot Kaur removed Brits, caught short of her crease attempting a quick single at 52/1.
Wolvaardt continued to bat brilliantly, bringing up her 39th ODI fifty and eventually progressing to a magnificent century of 101 runs. This was Wolvaardt’s breakthrough performance in the final, reflecting her important role in South Africa’s campaign and her emergence as a world-class batter. Her century, however, proved to be a lone standout as the rest of the South African batting unit struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack.
India’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Deepti Sharma, proved devastating during critical phases of South Africa’s chase. Deepti struck twice early, dismantling South Africa’s middle order with her variations and control. Shafali Verma, despite being primarily an opener, was brought into the bowling attack by captain Harmanpreet Kaur and repaid that faith immediately. Verma removed Sune Luus in her opening over before claiming the important wicket of Marizanne Kapp in quick succession, shifting the momentum decisively in India’s favor.
Sree Charani struck in her first over to dismiss Anneke Bosch, trapping her LBW and restricting South Africa further. The combination of precise bowling, excellent field placement, and tactical acumen from Harmanpreet Kaur proved too much for the Proteas to overcome. South Africa’s chase fizzled out as they managed only 246 runs, falling 52 runs short of India’s target.
Deepti Sharma’s Bowling Brilliance
The standout performance of India’s bowling attack came from Deepti Sharma, who delivered a match-winning spell of 5/39, becoming the hero of the final with both bat and ball. This exceptional performance not only restricted South Africa’s scoring but also provided India with the crucial breakthroughs needed at key moments. Deepti’s all-round contribution exemplified the quality and depth of India’s squad.
Historic Significance and Championship Context
This victory holds profound historical significance for Indian women’s cricket. India had reached World Cup finals twice before—notably in 2017—but had fallen short on both occasions, carrying the scars of those defeats. This 2025 triumph finally exorcises those demons and writes a new chapter in the history of women’s cricket in India.
What made this achievement even more special was that both finalists were competing for their maiden World Cup titles. South Africa was playing in their first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup final, adding to the pressure and emotion of the contest. The fact that neither team had previously won a World Cup made this the 13th edition to produce a new champion.
India’s Tournament Journey
India’s path to the final was marked by resilience and crucial momentum-building. The team began with victories over Sri Lanka and Pakistan but then suffered a challenging sequence, losing three consecutive matches to South Africa, Australia, and England. However, a crucial win over New Zealand proved decisive in securing a semifinal spot.
The semifinal against defending champions Australia proved to be a turning point. In one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament, Jemimah Rodrigues scored a match-winning century as India chased down the highest total in Women’s ODI history on home soil. This victory against the defending champions provided massive psychological momentum heading into the final.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s Leadership
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur led the charge throughout the tournament, making crucial tactical decisions and maintaining team morale during difficult phases. Her decision to bring Shafali Verma into the bowling attack proved decisive, and her overall captaincy was instrumental in India’s first-ever World Cup triumph. Under her leadership, this represented not just a sporting victory but a significant milestone for women’s cricket in India.
Prime Minister Modi’s Congratulatory Message
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the achievement as “a spectacular win” by the Indian team, emphasizing that the players displayed remarkable skill, composure, and exceptional teamwork throughout the tournament. In his congratulatory message posted on social media, Modi specifically stated: “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.”
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…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 2, 2025
Motivation for Future Champions
The core of Modi’s message focused on inspiring the next generation of athletes in India, with the Prime Minister emphasizing that this historic triumph would serve as motivation for future champions to pursue sports excellence. By highlighting how the victory would inspire future generations, Modi underscored the broader significance of the achievement beyond the immediate sporting accomplishment.
The Celebration and Legacy
Navi Mumbai erupted in celebration as India claimed the title on home soil. The victory provided validation for India’s investment in women’s cricket and inspired millions across the nation. The Women in Blue have now entered the history books as the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup champions, establishing themselves as a dominant force in global women’s cricket. This triumph is expected to elevate women’s cricket in India to new heights and inspire future generations of female cricketers to pursue excellence on the world stage.
