By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Nov 03, 2025 03:56 AM • 295 views
After years of near misses and heartbreaks, India’s women’s cricket team finally etched its name in history — winning its first-ever ICC Women’s ODI World Cup with a commanding 52-run victory over South Africa on Sunday.
Powered by brilliant all-round performances from Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma, India overcame a resilient South African challenge in the grand finale at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai — sealing a long-awaited dream that had eluded the team for decades.
Batting first after losing the toss, India posted an imposing 298/6 in 50 overs. The opening pair of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana provided a perfect start, putting on 104 runs for the first wicket. Shafali’s fearless stroke play and Deepti Sharma’s composure in the middle overs anchored the innings, both registering well-deserved fifties. Wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh’s quickfire 34 ensured India reached a formidable total on the board.
In reply, South Africa fought hard but fell short, bundled out for 246 runs. Skipper Laura Wolvaardt stood tall with a valiant 101-run knock, keeping South Africa’s hopes alive till the 42nd over. However, her dismissal — claimed fittingly by Deepti Sharma — turned the tide decisively in India’s favour. Deepti finished with five wickets, capping off a match-winning performance in the most crucial game of her career.
For India, this victory carries immense emotional weight. It marks their first-ever World Cup title across both formats (ODI and T20I). The women in blue had previously reached the ODI final in 2017 and the T20 final in 2020, falling just short on both occasions. Semi-final exits in 2018 and 2023 further deepened the longing for global glory. On Sunday, that wait finally ended. Under the bright Mumbai lights, India lifted the trophy that had long symbolised unfinished business — and in doing so, inspired a new generation of dreamers. “We’ve been waiting for this moment for years,” Deepti Sharma said after being named Player of the Final. “Today, it feels like all the hard work, pain, and patience were worth it.” With this historic win, India not only claimed the World Cup crown but also cemented their status as a powerhouse in women’s cricket and perhaps sparked the dawn of a new golden era.
