Key Points:
- India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, on November 2, 2025
- This is India’s first-ever World Cup title after heartbreaking final losses in 2005 and 2017
- BCCI announced a record ₹51 crore reward for players, coaches, and support staff, separate from ICC’s ₹40 crore prize money
- Shafali Verma scored 87 runs and took 2 wickets to win Player of the Match; Deepti Sharma claimed 5/39 and won Player of the Tournament
- India became the first Asian women’s team to win a global cricket title across all formats
- India reached the final by creating history with the highest-ever ODI chase of 339 runs against Australia in the semi-final
Navi Mumbai: The Indian women’s cricket team etched their names in history by clinching their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, November 2, 2025. This monumental achievement ended decades of heartbreak, including devastating losses in the 2005 and 2017 World Cup finals, making captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s team the first from Asia to win a women’s global cricket title across all formats.
Record-Breaking BCCI Reward
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced an unprecedented cash reward of ₹51 crore for the entire team, including players, coaches, selectors, and support staff, led by head coach Amol Muzumdar. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that this amount is completely separate from the ICC’s prize money, making the total financial windfall exceed ₹91 crore. The ICC had awarded the winners USD 4.48 million (approximately ₹40 crore), which represents a staggering 300% increase compared to previous tournaments and surpasses even the prize money given to Australia’s men’s team for their 2023 World Cup victory.
Historic Semifinal Sets Stage
India’s path to glory included a record-breaking semifinal victory against defending champions Australia, where they successfully chased down 339 runs in 48.3 overs, the highest successful chase in women’s ODI cricket history. Jemimah Rodrigues remained unbeaten on 127 runs, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed 89 runs in a crucial 167-run partnership. This was also the first time in World Cup history, men’s or women’s, that a team chased down 300-plus runs in a knockout match.
Final Match: India’s Commanding Performance
After South Africa won the toss and elected to field, India posted a formidable total of 298/7 in their 50 overs. The innings was built on a solid foundation laid by opening pair Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, who added 100 runs, their best powerplay partnership of the tournament. Mandhana scored a fluent 45 off 58 balls, striking eight boundaries before being dismissed. Shafali Verma top-scored with a magnificent 87 runs off 78 deliveries, including seven fours and two sixes, becoming the youngest cricketer in World Cup history (men’s or women’s) to score a fifty in a final at age 21 years and 278 days.
Middle Order Resilience
After the openers departed, all-rounder Deepti Sharma anchored the innings with a composed 58 runs, holding the innings together as wickets fell at the other end. Richa Ghosh provided a late spark with aggressive strokeplay toward the end, though India couldn’t quite achieve the big finish they hoped for, managing only 12 runs from the last two overs as South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk bowled a brilliant final over. Ayabonga Khaka was South Africa’s most successful bowler with figures of 3/58.
South Africa’s Chase Falls Short
Chasing 299 for victory, South Africa started positively but lost early wickets that put them on the back foot. Captain Laura Wolvaardt led from the front with a magnificent century, scoring 101 runs off 98 balls and becoming the first captain to score a hundred in a Women’s World Cup final. However, she found little support from her teammates as India’s bowlers struck at regular intervals.
Shafali Verma’s Unexpected Bowling Heroics
In a dramatic turn of events, Shafali Verma, who wasn’t even in the original 15-member squad and was called up only after Pratika Rawal’s injury before the knockouts, turned the match decisively with her part-time bowling. When South Africa seemed to be building momentum through the partnership between Wolvaardt and Sune Luus, captain Harmanpreet Kaur showed tremendous faith in Shafali by giving her the ball. Shafali responded brilliantly, dismissing the dangerous Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp to break the back of South Africa’s chase. She finished with outstanding figures of 2/36 in seven overs.
Deepti Sharma’s Match-Winning Spell
All-rounder Deepti Sharma produced a devastating spell of spin bowling that sealed India’s victory. After Shafali’s breakthrough, Deepti triggered a dramatic collapse, dismissing Annerie Dercksen and subsequently removing captain Wolvaardt and other key batters. South Africa crumbled from 209/5 to 246 all out in just 45.3 overs. Deepti’s magnificent figures of 5/39 made her the first bowler ever to take a five-wicket haul in a Women’s World Cup final. Sree Charani also chipped in with crucial wickets to complete India’s dominant victory.
Player Awards and Recognition
Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match for her extraordinary all-round performance, scoring 87 runs and taking 2 wickets in the final. Her redemption story captivated the nation, as she had been dropped from the ODI setup a year earlier and only made it to the squad due to an injury. Deepti Sharma was awarded Player of the Tournament after finishing the competition with 215 runs and a tournament-leading 22 wickets, including three half-centuries.
Comparisons to the 1983 Men’s World Cup
Cricket administrators drew parallels between this historic victory and India’s legendary 1983 men’s World Cup triumph under Kapil Dev. IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal stated that this is a memorable day for Indian women’s cricket, comparing it directly to what the men’s team achieved in 1983. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia echoed this sentiment, saying that just as Kapil Dev ushered in a new era for Indian cricket, the women’s team has now done the same for women’s cricket in the country.
Captain’s Emotional Journey
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur revealed how the team’s devastating loss against England during the group stage, when they failed to chase 289 despite being well-positioned at 234/3, became a turning point. That night, head coach Amol Mujumdar confronted the team, and they collectively decided to adopt a stronger mindset. Harmanpreet explained that the team began practicing visualization and meditation techniques after that loss, which transformed their approach. Following three consecutive defeats to South Africa, Australia, and England, India bounced back spectacularly to win their remaining matches and ultimately the title.
New Era for Women’s Cricket
Speaking after the victory, a visibly emotional but “numb” Harmanpreet struggled to put her feelings into words, repeatedly emphasizing the team’s “self-belief” throughout their journey. She described how the entire squad remained united and positive even when Pratika Rawal got injured before the knockouts, with everyone focused solely on the end goal of winning the trophy. This victory is expected to be a tremendous boost to women’s cricket in India, potentially leading to increased viewership, sponsorships, and opportunities for young girls aspiring to play cricket professionally.
The celebrations at the DY Patil Stadium were euphoric, with players in tears of joy as they hoisted the Indian flag and lifted the coveted trophy. This historic triumph marks the beginning of a new golden era for Indian women’s cricket, fulfilling a dream that had eluded the nation for decades.
