India created history on Sunday as they defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the Women’s World Cup final at Navi Mumbai and clinched their maiden ICC Trophy. Deepti Sharma snapped up 4 wickets including Laura Wolvaardt who was looking ominous with 101 runs. Earlier, Shafali Verma’s robust 87 was followed by combative knocks from Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh before South Africa rallied to limit India to an under-par 298/7. Deepti’s run-a-ball 58 and Richa (34) provided the much-needed late impetus with a 47-run partnership for the sixth wicket after India’s innings faltered in the middle overs with Jemimah Rodrigues (24) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (20) failing to convert their starts.
A plucky South Africa seemed to have spoiled India’s aim of a big first-innings total with regular strikes, aided by a pitch which slowed down and provided grip to the spinners as the contest progressed following a two-hour rain delay to the start of the match.
Shafali showed great maturity with a knock that featured both aggression and deft rotation of strike. The right-hander used all her experience to lay the platform for India, putting up an opening stand of 104 runs with Smriti Mandhana (45), which sent South Africa scrambling for answers early on. Shafali, who took charge from India’s leading run-scorer in the tournament, began with a cracking four off Ayabonga Khaka (3/58) in the second over and signalled her intent by coming down the track for a boundary off Marizanne Kapp in the fifth over, which was followed by another four with a flick off the pads.
Despite Shafali being the aggressor, Mandhana looked set for a big score but was denied a personal milestone by Chloe Tryon (1/46). Khaka, who had began by giving away 29 runs in three overs, completed a fine comeback when she got Shafali after a set of deliveries with varied length. Shafali was earlier dropped by Anneke Bosch in the 21st over off Luus but the India opener missed out on a ton. Star of India’s semifinal win over mighty Australia, Jemimah appeared to be prepping up for another long haul in the middle, but a superb low catch from skipper Laura Wolvaardt at cover off Khaka foiled her plans in the 30th over.
With two set batters back in the dugout, India’s hopes were pinned on skipper Harmanpreet for a defining innings, but that was not to be. Harmanpreet did well to put on 52 runs with Deepti but just when they were required to shift gears, India were jolted again.
India’s troubles continued when the fifth-wicket pair of Deepti and Amanjot Kaur (12) could also not trouble the scorers much, with Nadine de Klerk’s brilliance bringing an end to it. Amanjot was deceived by the slow pace when she lobbed one straight towards the bowler and de Klerk flung to her right to take a one-handed catch.
Having slammed a valuable half century (58) earlier, Deepti Sharma took 5/39 in 9.3 overs, making the final her own with both bat and ball while fashioning India’s biggest-ever victory in women’s cricket - a first World Cup win.
Soon after, a 45,000-strong crowd, along with the Indian team, broke into celebration, with Harmanpreet and the women-in-blue breaking into tears of joy. Fighting back after suffering three defeats on the trot that put their World Cup campaign in danger, India won the three matches that mattered to cross the line at last. Outclassing South Africa by 52 runs on Sunday night, India finally put an end to their long wait for an elusive World Cup.
Jemimah guides India to final
Chasing an imposing target of 339 against mighty Australia in the second semifinal, India seemed to be sinking when they lost both openers early. Pacer Kim Garth removed Pratika Rawal’s replacement Shafali Verma (10) and the in-form Smriti Mandhana. But when it mattered most, local girl Jemimah Rodrigues produced the innings of her life, slamming a brilliant 127 not out to guide India to a memorable five- wicket win with nine balls to spare.
PM Modi leads tributes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes to India’s women cricketers following their “historic” triumph, while team captain Harmanpreet hoped it would be a watershed moment for the women’s game in the country.
“The team showed exceptional teamwork and tenacity throughout the tournament. Congratulations to our players,” Prime Minister Modi said on social media. “This historic win will motivate future champions to take up sports.”
The Indian cricket board announced the team would receive a reward of 510 million Indian rupees ($5.8mn) for their title triumph. Batting great Sachin Tendulkar said Sunday’s win was “a defining moment in the journey of Indian women’s cricket.”
“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 ...”
Mithali Raj, who led India to the 2017 women’s final, said the victory for Harmanpreet’s side had made her dreams come true.
Pichai, Nadella hail victory
Tech leaders Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella joined millions of Indians in celebrating the country’s maiden triumph at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, lauding the team’s grit, inspiration, and historic achievement. Their posts underscored the worldwide recognition of India’s victory. Google CEO Sundar Pichai said, “That was a nail-biting women’s world cup cricket final, memories of 1983 and 2011 indeed. Congrats to Team India, am sure will inspire a whole generation. Great tournament from South Africa too!” he wrote, drawing parallels between the women’s team’s triumph and India’s iconic men’s World Cup wins.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also saluted the champions in his post, declaring, “Women in Blue = World Champions! Respect to South Africa for making their first-ever final. A truly historic day for women’s cricket - new chapters written, barriers broken, legends born.” His words reflected the broader sentiment that India’s win marks a new era for women’s sport globally.