For years, Indian women’s cricket had yearned for this moment. On a memorable evening at the DY Patil Stadium, Harmanpreet Kaur’s India finally clinched their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup trophy, defeating South Africa by a decisive 52 runs. As Deepti Sharma completed her five-wicket haul, confirming Nadine de Klerk’s dismissal and the match’s outcome, Harmanpreet secured the final catch, her stride turning into a celebratory run as the crowd erupted. Cheers filled the stands, and tricolors waved enthusiastically across the stadium.
Team India Women players were overcome with emotion after the win against South Africa in the final (Screengrabs)
Shafali Verma, who delivered a stellar performance, top-scoring with 87 runs off 78 balls and taking two crucial wickets, played a pivotal role in India’s victory. This win also put an end to India’s past heartbreaks in the 2005 and 2017 World Cup finals.
Emotions ran high on the field, with several players visibly shedding tears of joy. Richa Ghosh shared a heartfelt embrace with her captain, while Smriti Mandhana, Amanjot Kaur, and Renuka Thakur were all overcome with emotion.
Harmanpreet and Mandhana, draped in the national flag, shared a poignant moment of celebration at the center of the field. In the stands, Rohit Sharma was seen applauding the team’s monumental effort. Meanwhile, in the opposing dugout, South Africa’s captain, Laura Wolvaardt, who had scored a brilliant century, watched on with disappointment as her team’s strong campaign concluded in defeat.
Earlier in the match, India’s formidable total of 298/7 was built upon Shafali’s fluent innings and Deepti Sharma’s composed 58, with Richa Ghosh contributing a valuable cameo in the final overs. In response, South Africa’s chase started promisingly but faltered under pressure, as India’s spinners skillfully tightened their grip as the innings progressed.
This victory marks India’s first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup title, a defining moment that culminates years of consistent progress and near misses. As the players gathered for the presentation ceremony, the profound significance of their achievement was truly undeniable.