India scripted history with a thrilling 52-run victory over South Africa in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 final at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai — clinching their first-ever World Cup crown.
Batting first, India posted a strong 298/7, powered by Shafali Verma’s 87 and Deepti Sharma’s 58. In reply, South Africa looked on track until Deepti’s brilliant spell (5/39) triggered a collapse from 209/5 to 246 all out.
Captain Laura Wolvaardt’s valiant century (101) wasn’t enough as India’s bowlers, led by Deepti and Shafali, sealed a historic win on home soil.
Having lost the toss, India got off to a brisk start with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana putting up a 100-run partnership for the first wicket.
Mandhana (45), who looked in fluent touch, fell just short of her half-century but Verma kept the innings steady.
However, South Africa found a way back into the game as Khaka struck twice in quick succession, removing two set batters in Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues to put India in a brief spot of bother. Every time India tried to build a partnership, the Proteas found a way to break it.
Deepti Sharma held the innings together from one end and her composure allowed India to recover after the slight middle-order wobble, even as wickets continued to fall around her. Towards the end, Richa Ghosh provided the late spark, finding boundaries and pushing the total closer to 300.
However, just when India seemed set for a big finish, Ghosh fell in the penultimate over and Nadine de Klerk delivered a brilliant final over, conceding only six runs and denying India a late flourish. Only 12 runs came off the last two overs, leaving India slightly short of what looked like a big target at one stage, but at the end proved enough to give them their first World Cup title.