India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final – the phrase every cricket fan in the country woke up chanting on November 3, 2025. After 52 long years of near-misses, heartbreaks, and semi-final exits, India Women finally lifted the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup trophy. A packed Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai witnessed pure magic as Harmanpreet Kaur’s warriors beat South Africa by 52 runs in a nerve-jangling final.
This wasn’t just a win. It was history rewritten. It was redemption for Deepti Sharma. It was Shafali Verma announcing her arrival on the biggest stage. And it was Laura Wolvaardt’s lone battle that nearly pulled off the impossible.
Buckle up, cricket lovers. This ultimate recap brings you ball-by-ball highlights, deep stats in tables, player reactions, tactical breakdowns, records shattered, and what this means for Indian cricket. Let’s relive every moment.
Match Summary at a Glance
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Result | India Women won by 52 runs |
| India Score | 298/7 in 50 overs |
| South Africa Score | 246 all out in 45.3 overs |
| Player of the Match | Shafali Verma (87 runs & 2/36) |
| Player of the Tournament | Deepti Sharma (58 runs & 5/39 in final; 22 wickets & 200+ runs overall) |
| Toss | South Africa won and chose to bowl first |
| Venue | Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai |
| Crowd | 60,000 – Full house |
| Start Delay | 2 hours due to rain |
| Umpires | Eloise Sheridan, Jacqueline Williams |
| TV Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
| Streaming | JioHotstar |
Key Stat: India became the first team in Women’s ODI World Cup history to win the title after losing 3 group-stage matches.
How the Epic Unfolded: Full Innings Breakdown
India Women Innings: 298/7 – Third-Highest WC Final Total Without a Century
India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final The final began under dark clouds. Rain delayed the toss by two hours. South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt won and opted to bowl, expecting early help.
But Shafali Verma had other plans.
Powerplay: 64/0 in 10 Overs – Flying Start
| Over | Runs | Wickets | Key Moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–6 | 45/0 | 0 | Shafali hits 3 fours off Khaka |
| 7–10 | 19/0 | 0 | Mandhana joins with back-to-back boundaries |
- Shafali Verma: Danced down the track, negated swing, smashed 5 boundaries in first 19 balls.
- Smriti Mandhana: Elegant cover drives – 14-run 6th over off Khaka.
1st Wicket: 104-Run Opening Stand
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | 45 | 58 | 8 | 0 | c Jafta b Tryon (17.4) |
| Shafali Verma | 49* | – | – | – | – |
- Highest opening stand in a Women’s WC final since 2013.
- Mandhana’s late cut edged to keeper. Crowd went silent. Then Shafali roared back.
Shafali Verma’s 87: Career-Best Knock
| Milestone | Balls Taken |
|---|---|
| 50 off | 49 |
| First 6 (vs de Klerk) | 15th over |
| Dismissal (c Luus b Khaka) | 78 balls |
- 7 fours, 2 sixes – including a massive straight hit.
- Missed century by 13 runs – caught at long-on trying to clear the ropes.
- Youngest Player of the Match in WC semi or final (men’s or women’s) at 21 years 279 days.
Middle Order Wobble: 166/2 to 223/4
| Wicket | Score | Over | Bowler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jemimah Rodrigues | 171/3 | 29.4 | Khaka |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | 223/4 | 38.6 | Mlaba (bowled) |
- Rodrigues (24 off 37) started well but holed out.
- Harmanpreet (20 off 29) rebuilt with Deepti but fell at crucial time.
Deepti Sharma & Richa Ghosh: The Game-Changing Finish
| Partnership | Runs | Balls | Key Contributor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deepti-Harman | 52 | 56 | Deepti 32* |
| Deepti-Amanjot | 22 | 25 | – |
| Deepti-Ghosh | 47 | 35 | Ghosh 34 (24) |
- Richa Ghosh: Walked in at 245/5, smashed 2nd ball for six over extra cover.
- Deepti Sharma: Anchored with 58 off 58 (3×4, 1×6) – run out off last ball.
- India added 98 runs in last 15 overs despite slow pitch.
India Batting Card
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | 45 | 58 | 8 | 0 | 77.59 | c Jafta b Tryon |
| Shafali Verma | 87 | 78 | 7 | 2 | 111.54 | c Luus b Khaka |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | 24 | 37 | 1 | 0 | 64.86 | c Wolvaardt b Khaka |
| Harmanpreet Kaur (c) | 20 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 68.97 | b Mlaba |
| Deepti Sharma | 58 | 58 | 3 | 1 | 100.00 | run out |
| Amanjot Kaur | 12 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 85.71 | c&b de Klerk |
| Richa Ghosh (wk) | 34 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 141.67 | c Dercksen b Khaka |
| Radha Yadav | 3* | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | not out |
| Extras | 15 | – | – | – | – | (w12, lb2, nb1) |
Total: 298/7 (RR: 5.96)
ESPNcricinfo for full scorecard.
South Africa Innings: 246 All Out – Wolvaardt’s 101 in Vain
Early Struggle: 12 Runs in First 4 Overs
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renuka Singh | 8 | 28 | 0 |
| Kranti Gaud | 3 | 16 | 0 |
- Tazmin Brits: 6 off 16 balls – struggling.
- Laura Wolvaardt: Took charge – boundary every over from 5th.
Breakthrough: Amanjot Kaur’s Direct Hit
| Wicket | Score | Over | How Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tazmin Brits | 51/1 | 9.3 | run out (Amanjot) |
- Brilliant fielding from midwicket. Brits short by a frame.
Anneke Bosch: Another Duck
| Batter | R | B | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anneke Bosch | 0 | 6 | lbw b Shree Charani |
- Third duck in the tournament. Horror campaign ends.
Wolvaardt & Luus Rebuild: 52-Run Stand
| Batter | R | B | 4s | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sune Luus | 25 | 31 | 4 | c&b Shafali Verma |
- Luus swept and cut beautifully.
- Wolvaardt reached 50 off 45 balls.
The Turning Point: Shafali Verma’s Magic Over (21st Over)
| Ball | Batter | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Luus | Return catch – chipped back |
| Next over, Ball 1 | Kapp | Edged to keeper – down leg |
- 2 wickets in 5 balls.
- Score: 114/2 → 123/4.
- Harmanpreet: “I saw Shafali standing there. I knew it was her day.”
Shafali had taken only 1 wicket in 30 previous ODIs.
Deepti Sharma’s 5-Wicket Haul: The Final Nail
| Wicket | Score | Over | How Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinalo Jafta | 148/5 | 29.3 | c Radha b Deepti |
| Annerie Dercksen | 209/6 | 39.3 | b Deepti (yorker) |
| Laura Wolvaardt | 220/7 | 41.1 | c Amanjot b Deepti |
| Chloe Tryon | 221/8 | 41.4 | lbw Deepti (umpire’s call) |
| Nadine de Klerk | 246/10 | 45.3 | c Harmanpreet b Deepti |
- Deepti’s figures: 9.3-0-39-5
- First player (men’s or women’s) to take 5 wickets and score 50 in a World Cup knockout.
South Africa Batting Card
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Wolvaardt (c) | 101 | 98 | 11 | 1 | 103.06 | c Amanjot b Deepti |
| Tazmin Brits | 23 | 35 | 2 | 1 | 65.71 | run out |
| Anneke Bosch | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | lbw Charani |
| Sune Luus | 25 | 31 | 4 | 0 | 80.65 | c&b Shafali |
| Marizanne Kapp | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 | c Ghosh b Shafali |
| Sinalo Jafta (wk) | 16 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 55.17 | c Radha b Deepti |
| Annerie Dercksen | 35 | 37 | 1 | 2 | 94.59 | b Deepti |
| Chloe Tryon | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 112.50 | lbw Deepti |
| Nadine de Klerk | 18 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 94.74 | c Harman b Deepti |
| Ayabonga Khaka | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14.29 | run out |
| Nonkululeko Mlaba | 0* | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | not out |
Total: 246 all out (45.3 overs, RR: 5.41)
Bowling Figures Comparison
| Bowler (IND) | O | M | R | W | Eco |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renuka Singh | 8 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 3.50 |
| Deepti Sharma | 9.3 | 0 | 39 | 5 | 4.10 |
| Shree Charani | 9 | 0 | 48 | 1 | 5.33 |
| Shafali Verma | 7 | 0 | 36 | 2 | 5.14 |
| Bowler (RSA) | O | M | R | W | Eco |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayabonga Khaka | 9 | 0 | 58 | 3 | 6.44 |
| Chloe Tryon | 7 | 0 | 46 | 1 | 6.57 |
| Nadine de Klerk | 9 | 0 | 52 | 1 | 5.78 |
Records Broken in the Final
| Record | Achievement | Player/Team |
|---|---|---|
| First 50 + 5 wickets in WC knockout | Deepti Sharma | India |
| Youngest PotM in WC final | 21y 279d | Shafali Verma |
| Most wickets in single WC | 22 | Deepti Sharma (joint 2nd) |
| First WC win after 3 losses | India 2025 | Like PAK 1992, ENG 2019 (men) |
| 2nd highest WC final total | 298/7 | India |
Player Reactions: Tears, Hugs, and Legacy
Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain)
“We wanted to break the barrier. Now? We want to make it a habit. This is just the beginning.”
- Credited BCCI, Amol Muzumdar, and team unity.
- On Shafali bowling: “I saw her standing there. I knew it was her day.”
Shafali Verma (Player of the Match)
“God sent me to do something good. Today, it reflected.”
- Thanked parents, Smriti, Harmanpreet.
- Inspired by Sachin Tendulkar watching from stands.
Deepti Sharma (Player of the Tournament)
“Feels like a dream. I dedicate this to my mom and dad.”
- 2017: Last batter out (needed 11 off 12)
- 2022: No-ball heartbreak vs SA
- 2025: Redemption with 58 & 5/39
Smriti Mandhana
“Still sinking in. I’ll take 45 sleepless nights for this.”
Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa Captain)
“Proud of the team. We wanted to win it for Kapp – this might be her last.”
Tactical Masterclass: Why India Won
| Factor | India | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Spin Bowling | 8 wickets (Deepti, Shafali, Charani) | 1 wicket (Mlaba) |
| Fielding | 2 run-outs, juggle catch | 0 direct hits |
| Death Overs (41–50) | 69 runs lost 3 wkts | 37 runs lost 5 wkts |
| Captaincy | Gut call (Shafali bowls) | Jafta sent ahead of power hitters |
India’s World Cup Journey: From 1973 to Champions
| Year | Result | Key Moment |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Runners-Up | Lost to AUS |
| 2017 | Runners-Up | Lost to ENG |
| 2020 | Runners-Up (T20) | Lost to AUS |
| 2025 | CHAMPIONS | Beat RSA by 52 runs |
What’s Next for India Women?
- Bilateral Series: vs England, Australia (2026)
- WPL 2026: Bigger auctions, more global stars
- T20 World Cup 2026: Defend title?
- Champions Trophy: New frontier
Fan Reactions: #IndianWomenChampions Trends
- Rohit Sharma in stands: Emotional, teary-eyed
- Sachin Tendulkar: Smiling, clapping for Shafali
- Meme: “Deepti Sharma collecting 5-fers like Infinity Stones”
- #MaidenTitle: 2.1M posts in 24 hours
Quick Hits: India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final
- Who won the India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final? → India won by 52 runs
- Who was Player of the Match? → Shafali Verma (87 & 2 wickets)
- How many runs did Laura Wolvaardt score? → 101 off 98 balls
- Did rain affect the final? → Yes, 2-hour delay. No dew.
- Is this India’s first World Cup? → Yes – first in ODI or T20.
- Who took 5 wickets? → Deepti Sharma (5/39)
- Was Shafali Verma a late call-up? → Yes – replaced injured Pratika Rawal before semis.
- Where was the final played? → Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
ICC Women’s ODI World Cup Winners List (1973 to 2025)
Final Word: A New Dawn for Indian Cricket
The clock struck midnight. Fireworks lit the Navi Mumbai sky. Harmanpreet Kaur held the trophy high. Pratika Rawal, on a wheelchair, smiled through tears. Jhulan Goswami lifted it next. Mithali Raj waved the flag.
This wasn’t just a win.
It was hope. It was pride. It was proof that Indian women can rule the world.
India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final – a match that will be told for generations.
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FAQs: India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final
1. What happened in India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final?
India Women clinched their maiden World Cup title with a commanding 52-run victory over South Africa at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai. Batting first after a rain delay, India posted 298/7, powered by Shafali Verma’s 87 and Deepti Sharma’s 58. South Africa collapsed from 209/5 to 246 all out, thanks to Deepti’s 5/39.
2. Who won Player of the Match in India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final?
Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match for her explosive 87 off 78 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes) and a game-changing 2/36 with the ball, including the wickets of Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp. At 21 years 279 days, she became the youngest PotM in any World Cup semi-final or final (men’s or women’s).
3. How did Deepti Sharma perform in India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final?
Deepti Sharma delivered a historic all-round show: 58 off 58 (3 fours, 1 six) to anchor India’s innings, followed by 5/39 in 9.3 overs — including a perfect yorker to Annerie Dercksen and the final wicket. She became the first cricketer ever (men’s or women’s) to score a fifty and take a five-for in a World Cup knockout match.
4. Why did South Africa lose India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final?
Despite Laura Wolvaardt’s brilliant 101, South Africa lost 5 wickets for 37 runs in the last 37 balls. Key turning points: Shafali Verma’s double strike in the 21st over and Deepti Sharma’s death-over mastery. Poor middle-order batting and fielding lapses (no direct hits) sealed their fate.
5. Where was India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final played?
The Navi Mumbai final was hosted at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, with a full house of 60,000 fans. India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final The match started 2 hours late due to rain, but no dew appeared — favoring India’s spinners on a grippy pitch.
6. Is this India’s first ICC Women’s World Cup title?
Yes! The India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final marked India’s maiden ODI World Cup title. India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final Previous best: Runners-up in 2005, 2017, and 2020 T20 World Cup. India also became the first team to win after 3 group-stage losses.
7. Who took the catch to dismiss Laura Wolvaardt in India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final?
Amanjot Kaur took a stunning juggled catch at deep midwicket off Deepti Sharma in the 41st over. Wolvaardt miscued a lofted shot after scoring 101 off 98. India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final Amanjot fumbled twice but held on — a moment that broke South Africa’s back.
8. How many runs did Shafali Verma score in India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final?
Shafali Verma smashed 87 off 78 balls — her highest ODI score and a career-defining knock. India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final She raced to 50 in 49 balls, hit 7 fours and 2 sixes, and built a 104-run opening stand with Smriti Mandhana (45).
9. Was rain a factor in India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final?
India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final Yes, rain delayed the start by 2 hours, pushing toss to 3:00 PM local. The pitch turned slow and grippy, aiding spinners. However, no dew materialized — a tactical win for India, whose spin trio (Deepti, Shree Charani, Shafali) took 8 wickets.
10. What did Harmanpreet Kaur say after India Women vs South Africa Women World Cup 2025 Final?
“We wanted to break the barrier. Now, we want to make it a habit. This is just the beginning.” She praised Shafali’s bowling instinct, BCCI support, and coach Amol Muzumdar, calling the win a “watershed moment” for Indian women’s cricket.