India's women's cricket team ended decades of waiting, securing their first-ever Women’s Cricket World Cup title with a dominant 52-run victory over first-time finalists South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. The victory, achieved in India’s third World Cup final appearance, marked a watershed moment for the sport in the country.
After losing the toss and being put in to bat, the Indian team posted a formidable total of 298-7 in their allotted 50 overs, the second-highest score ever recorded in a Women’s World Cup final. The foundation was laid by opener Shafali Verma, who delivered a career-best performance, smashing 87 runs off just 78 balls.
The momentum was sustained by the sensational all-rounder Deepti Sharma, who stabilized the middle order with a crucial 58 runs before unleashing a match-winning bowling spell. In response, South Africa’s chase was anchored by their captain, Laura Wolvaardt, who fought valiantly with a magnificent century (101 off 98 balls).
Wolvaardt became only the second player in history to score back-to-back centuries in the tournament's semi-final and final. However, a lack of support at the other end allowed India's spin attack to tighten the screws.
The match-defining moments came through the ball-handling brilliance of the Indian all-rounders. Deepti Sharma tore through the South African middle and lower order, claiming the final wicket to finish with incredible figures of 5-39 from 9.3 overs. Verma also contributed with the ball, picking up 2-36, further highlighting the all-round strength of the hosts. South Africa were eventually bowled out for 246 in 45.3 overs.
Shafali Verma was deservedly named Player of the Match for her aggressive innings and impactful bowling spell.
Deepti Sharma was crowned Player of the Tournament, capping off an exceptional campaign where she amassed 215 runs and led the tournament in wickets with 22 scalps, an unmatched all-round performance.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a monumental ₹51 crore cash reward for the victorious Indian women’s team, coaching staff, and support staff, cementing the victory's significance.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana were seen sharing an emotional embrace and breaking down in tears after the final catch was taken, symbolizing the release of years of near-misses (2005 and 2017 finals).
