India lift Women’s World Cup Cricket title

MUMBAI, Nov 2: India created history by lifting the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 trophy for the first time, defeating South Africa by 52 runs at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma delivered outstanding all-round performances to guide India to a memorable victory.
Chasing 299, South Africa were well placed at 209/5, but a crucial breakthrough from Deepti Sharma triggered a dramatic collapse. Once she removed Annerie Dercksen (35), the Proteas crumbled to 246 all out.
Captain Laura Wolvaardt led from the front with a superb 101, her second century in a row, but a lack of partnership support hurt South Africa’s chase. Deepti Sharma finished with sensational figures of 5/39, while Shafali Verma and Sree Charani picked up key wickets to seal India’s triumph.
Earlier, sent in to bat, India posted 298/7 — the second-highest total in a Women’s ODI World Cup final. A commanding 100-run opening stand between Shafali Verma (87) and Smriti Mandhana (45) set the platform. Deepti Sharma (58) anchored the middle overs, and Richa Ghosh (34) provided late acceleration to push India close to the 300 mark.
For South Africa, Ayabonga Khaka was the pick of the bowlers with 3/58, while Nonkululeko Mlaba, Nadine de Klerk and Chloe Tryon claimed one wicket each.
The win has given Assam its first World Cup–winning cricketer, Uma Chetry. She is the first Assamese player to lift a World Cup Cricket trophy.
PHOTO COURTESY: BCCI (FB Page)