Navi Mumbai, November 2 (Daily Kiran): The Indian women’s cricket team has made history by winning the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup for the first time, ending a 52-year-long wait. Under the captaincy of Harmanpreet Kaur, Team India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the 2025 World Cup final held at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.
Shafali and Deepti Lead India to a Strong Total
Batting first after losing the toss, India posted an impressive 298/7. Shafali Verma, replacing the injured Pratika Rawal, played a stunning knock of 87 runs off 78 balls, smashing seven fours and two sixes. Deepti Sharma provided solid support with 58 runs off 58 balls.
Shafali added 106 runs for the first wicket with Smriti Mandhana (45) and later stitched another 62-run partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues (24). In the final overs, Richa Ghosh added quick momentum with a brisk 34 runs off 24 balls.
For South Africa, Ayobonga Khaka was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 58 runs.
Deepti and Shafali Destroy South Africa’s Chase
Chasing 299, South Africa’s hopes rested on captain Laura Wolvaardt, who fought valiantly with a brilliant century (101 off 98 balls). However, India’s disciplined bowling attack turned the game around.
Deepti Sharma delivered a magical spell, claiming five wickets, while Shafali Verma took two crucial scalps, bundling out South Africa for 246 runs in 45.3 overs. India sealed the match — and the World Cup — by 52 runs.
A New Era Under Harmanpreet Kaur
This historic victory marks India’s first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup title. The team had previously reached the finals in 2005 and 2017, but victory had eluded them until now.
Deepti Sharma emerged as one of the tournament’s biggest stars — scoring over 200 runs and taking 15 wickets, becoming the first woman cricketer to achieve this double in a single ODI World Cup.
This triumph is more than just a title; it represents the dawn of a new era for Indian women’s cricket — a moment when the “Blue Brigade” proved to the world that India now commands power and pride in women’s cricket too.