In a thrilling final at the DY Patil Stadium, the Indian women’s team defeated South Africa by 52 runs to claim their first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup trophy, marking a turning point in the history of Indian cricket. When BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia announced a Rs 51 crore award for the players and support staff, celebrations broke out nationwide. Saikia hailed the triumph as a “monumental achievement that will take Indian women’s cricket to a new level.” IPL chairman Arun Dhumal, meanwhile, praised the team’s historic achievement and compared it to India’s famous men’s World Cup victory in 1983.
Shafali Verma’s fluid 87, Deepti Sharma’s cool 58, and important contributions from Smriti Mandhana (45) and Richa Ghosh (34), who batted first earlier, helped India score a dominant 298/7. Mandhana and Verma’s strong opening partnership of 100 runs laid the groundwork for a massive total, but South Africa came back late to keep India just below 300. South Africa got off to a strong start chasing 299 thanks to a quick fifty-run opening partnership between Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt.
However, the Brits’ stay was cut short by a direct hit from Amanjot Kaur, and India then took over the match. Before Shafali Verma, who was also brilliant with the ball, produced a game-changing spell that quickly removed Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp, young bowler Sree Charani struck in her opening over, trapping Anneke Bosch LBW. Then, in a brilliant display, Deepti Sharma destroyed South Africa’s middle order with a score of 5 for 39. In front of thunderous home crowds, India achieved a historic 52-run triumph when the Proteas were bowled out for 246 in 45.3 overs, despite Wolvaardt’s valiant 101.
