India Beat South Africa in Women's World Cup Final 2025

In a moment that will be etched in Indian cricket history forever, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team defeated South Africa by 52 runs to claim their maiden ICC Women’s ODI World Cup title at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium on Sunday evening.

The hosts secured victory after posting 298 runs and restricting South Africa to 246 in 45.3 overs, with Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma starring in India’s historic triumph.

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Shafali Verma’s All-Round Masterclass Powers India

Shafali Verma delivered an extraordinary performance, scoring 87 runs off 78 balls and claiming two crucial wickets. The 21-year-old opener, who was in Surat playing domestic cricket just days ago, turned the match in India’s favor with her part-time bowling.

“I just saw Shafali standing there, and the way she was batting, I knew it was our day,” captain Harmanpreet Kaur said during the post-match presentation. “I thought I have to go with my gut feeling. If my heart was saying, I had to give her at least one over. And that was the turning point for us”.

Opening the innings, Verma partnered with Smriti Mandhana to build a crucial 100-run stand that set the foundation for India’s imposing total. Vegas11 News reported that the packed stadium erupted when Shafali reached her fifty, the second-fastest in a Women’s World Cup final.

Deepti Sharma’s Five-Wicket Haul Seals Victory

Deepti Sharma emerged as the star with the ball, finishing with exceptional figures of 5 for 39 while also contributing 58 runs with the bat. Her crucial breakthroughs triggered South Africa’s collapse from 209 for 5 to 246 all out.

“After Shafali was taken for nine runs in her seventh over, Deepti Sharma unleashed a yorker to uproot off stump,” removing a dangerous batsman and shifting momentum decisively toward India.

Wolvaardt’s Heroic Century Not Enough

South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt led from the front with a magnificent century, scoring 101 runs off 98 balls. The right-hander had already smashed 169 in the semi-final against England, becoming only the second player after Alyssa Healy to score consecutive centuries in World Cup knockout matches.

“I could not be prouder of this team for the campaign we had,” Wolvaardt said after the match. “Brilliant cricket throughout but outplayed today by India”.

Despite Wolvaardt’s heroics and a fighting 35 from Annerie Dercksen, wickets fell regularly at the other end, with the Proteas crumbling under pressure.

Rain Delays and Dramatic Finish

The final was delayed by two hours due to rain, but when play began, India capitalized on the conditions. The match experienced stop-start moments due to weather, with South Africa ahead of the DLS par score before losing crucial wickets.

The dramatic finale saw captain Harmanpreet Kaur take the final catch as Nadine de Klerk’s attempt to go over cover fell short. “Harman runs back from cover, leaps, catches the ball and seals the World Cup”, as the stadium exploded in celebration.

Breaking the ICC Title Drought

This marked the first time an ODI World Cup has been won by a team that lost three matches in the tournament. India had stumbled in the group stage but found their rhythm when it mattered most, defeating Australia in a thrilling semi-final before conquering South Africa in the final.

The victory is even more significant considering India’s journey over the years. In previous World Cup campaigns, the Indian women’s team often struggled to progress beyond the group stage, making early exits from the tournament. This triumph represents a complete transformation of Indian women’s cricket.

“This is just the starting, we are going to dominate the world in every format,” declared Amanjot Kaur after the victory.

Indian cricket legends Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, Mithali Raj, and Jhulan Goswami were present at the stadium, witnessing history unfold. The victory comes 18 years after India’s heartbreaking loss in the 2017 World Cup final at Lord’s.

Player of the Tournament

Deepti Sharma was named Player of the Tournament for her outstanding all-round performance throughout the competition, taking 20 wickets and scoring over 200 runs.

“This is feeling like a dream because we have not been able to come out of that emotion,” Deepti said while accepting the award. “We have always thought about how we can use the takeaways from every match”.

For South Africa, Ayabonga Khaka was the standout bowler with figures of 3 for 58, while Nonkululeko Mlaba, Nadine de Klerk, and Chloe Tryon picked up a wicket each.

Match Highlights: Key Moments That Defined The Final

India Innings:

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma’s explosive opening partnership of 100 runs set the tone
Shafali Verma scored a blistering 87 off 78 balls with 12 fours and 3 sixes
Deepti Sharma’s crucial 58 runs helped India post a commanding 298
India reached their highest total in a World Cup final
Late cameos from the middle order pushed the score past the 295 mark

South Africa Chase:

Laura Wolvaardt’s magnificent century (101 off 98 balls) kept hopes alive
South Africa were cruising at 209 for 5 before the dramatic collapse
Shafali Verma’s surprise bowling spell: 2 wickets in 7 overs including the crucial breakthrough
Deepti Sharma’s deadly yorker shattered the stumps at a critical moment
South Africa lost their last 5 wickets for just 37 runs
Match sealed when Harmanpreet Kaur took the final catch off Nadine de Klerk

Turning Point: The match turned in India’s favor when captain Harmanpreet Kaur gambled by giving the ball to part-timer Shafali Verma. The move paid off instantly as Verma broke the dangerous partnership, triggering South Africa’s collapse from a position of strength.

As fireworks lit up the Mumbai sky and the tricolor waved proudly, India’s women cricketers finally lifted the trophy that had eluded them for decades, cementing their place in sporting immortality.