India created history at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai, lifting their maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title with a resounding 52-run victory over South Africa in the 2025 final.
The triumph marked a defining moment for Indian women’s cricket – a culmination of years of perseverance, talent, and transformation. It was a contest dominated by the brilliance of Deepti Sharma, who delivered an all-round masterclass, and Shafali Verma, whose fearless batting set the stage for India’s historic win. The victory also symbolized a generational shift in world cricket, as India’s young stars etched their names alongside the game’s greats.
Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma’s all-round brilliance powers India to glory
Deepti Sharma emerged as the architect of India’s success with a performance that will be remembered for generations. The 27-year-old all-rounder scored a composed 58 runs before ripping through South Africa’s batting lineup with an exceptional five-wicket haul (5/39). Her consistency throughout the tournament earned her the Player of the Tournament award, as she finished as the highest wicket-taker with 22 scalps in nine innings. Remarkably, Deepti became the first cricketer in World Cup knockout history – across men’s and women’s formats – to score a fifty and take a five-for in the same match. Complementing her brilliance was Shafali Verma, who lit up the grand finale with a blazing 87 off 78 balls, featuring 12 fours and two sixes. She shared a century opening stand with Smriti Mandhana (45), laying the perfect platform for India’s total of 298/7. Later, quick cameos from Deepti and Richa Ghosh (34 off 24) powered India close to the 300-run mark. For her all-round effort (87 runs and 2 wickets for 36), Shafali was deservedly named Player of the Match.
Laura Wolvaardt’s lone fight falls short as India clinch glory
Despite South Africa’s defeat, captain Laura Wolvaardt showcased her class with a sublime 101 off 98 balls, ending the tournament as the top run-scorer with 571 runs in nine innings – the most by any player in a single Women’s World Cup edition. Her fluent century gave South Africa hope during their chase, but India’s disciplined attack, led by Deepti’s spin and Shafali’s timely breakthroughs, proved too strong. The Proteas were eventually bowled out for 246, handing India a famous 52-run victory.
As the players celebrated under the Mumbai lights, it wasn’t just the end of a match – it was the beginning of a new era for Indian women’s cricket. The moment Indian captain Jarmanpreet Kaur lifted the trophy marked a monumental leap forward for the sport in India – a triumph built on belief, resilience, and the emergence of a generation ready to dominate world cricket.
Complete list of award winners after the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Final
- Champions: India
- Runners-up: South Africa
- Player of the Match (Final): Shafali Verma (87 runs, 2/36)
- Player of the Tournament: Deepti Sharma (22 wickets, 58 runs and 5/39 in final)
- Most Runs: Laura Wolvaardt (571 runs, South Africa)
- Most Wickets: Deepti Sharma (22 wickets, India)
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
