The wait is finally over! India have etched their name in the annals of cricket history by clinching their maiden ICC Women’s ODI World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling final at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy on Sunday.
With this triumph, India became only the fourth nation to lift the coveted trophy in the tournament’s 52-year history, joining the ranks of cricketing powerhouses Australia, England, and New Zealand.
Set a daunting 299-run target, South Africa started confidently through Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, who stitched together a solid opening stand. However, once India’s bowlers found their rhythm, the momentum swung sharply.
Skipper Wolvaardt fought a lone battle, crafting a brilliant 101 off 98 balls, peppered with 11 boundaries and a six. But her efforts weren’t enough to resist India’s bowling brilliance, led by Deepti Sharma, who delivered a match-winning spell of 5 for 39 in 9.3 overs.
Shafali Verma (2 wickets) and Shree Charani also contributed crucial breakthroughs as South Africa folded for 246 in 45.3 overs.
This victory marks a watershed moment for Indian women’s cricket. After years of near-misses, the Women in Blue finally lifted the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, cementing their place among the sport’s elite.
The first-ever Women’s World Cup was held in 1973, where England defeated Australia to claim the inaugural title — two years before the men’s version began. Since then, the tournament has seen dominance from Australia and England, with India now breaking into the winners’ circle.
