India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, expressed that their recent victory at the Women’s World Cup marked the start of a new era for the team. The triumph came as they defeated South Africa by 52 runs to claim their first-ever title. Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma shone brightly, contributing significantly with both bat and ball, helping India secure the championship in front of an exuberant home crowd at Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium.
India posted a challenging total of 298-7, with opener Verma leading the charge with 87 runs. In response, South Africa was bowled out for 246 in 45.3 overs, with spinner Sharma’s impressive five-wicket haul playing a pivotal role. Despite a valiant 101 by South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, Sharma’s crucial wickets tilted the game in India’s favor, igniting celebrations among the 45,000 spectators and millions of fans across the nation.
Kaur emphasized the team’s determination to break barriers and build on their success. This win marked India’s third attempt at claiming the title, having finished as runners-up in 2005 and 2017. Despite initial struggles in the league phase, including three consecutive defeats, India rallied to secure a spot in the semi-finals and eventually overcame heavy favorites Australia in a stunning upset.
For South Africa, it was a disappointing third consecutive loss in a World Cup final, following their runner-up finishes in the T20 editions of 2023 and 2024. Despite a resilient campaign led by Wolvaardt, who topped the tournament batting charts, South Africa fell short against India’s all-round performance.
Sharma’s standout performance, both with the ball and bat, earned her the player of the match award and recognition as the best player of the World Cup. Her contributions, alongside Verma’s explosive start and Kaur’s strategic decisions, were instrumental in India’s historic victory that marked the beginning of a new chapter for women’s cricket in the country.