India celebrated a resounding 88-run triumph over Pakistan in a thrilling 2025 Women’s World Cup encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium. A pivotal moment came when star all-rounder Deepti Sharma was honored with the coveted best fielder medal for her exceptional performance, highlighted by a game-changing direct hit that resulted in Muneeba Ali’s run-out. Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who had previously earned the accolade in the tournament’s opening match, presented the medal to a jubilant Deepti.
Deepti’s contribution extended beyond her brilliant fielding; she also took an impressive 20 wickets and scored three runs off 45 balls. India successfully set a target of 247 runs and then confidently dismissed Pakistan for just 159, marking their 12th One Day International victory against their neighbors. Following the win, Deepti humbly remarked, “God is great,” in a video shared by the official team channel.
Despite some earlier concerns regarding overall fielding, coach Munish Bali was quick to commend the standout efforts of Deepti, captain Harmanpreet Kaur, and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana. His motivational words resonated deeply: “Shabaash (excellent) girls, well done. Back-to-back wins – took six catches, and two run-outs, well done. Two very good catches under pressure – Smriti, well done. One good catch, one direct hit – well done Harmanpreet. Deepti, excellent slip catch. Good low catch. One run-out with very good game awareness, excellent Deepti.”
This decisive victory has elevated India to the top position in the eight-team tournament table. Pakistan, in contrast, remains at sixth place, yet to secure any points. India’s upcoming schedule features a challenging match against South Africa at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on October 9th, followed by a highly anticipated clash with defending champions Australia at the same venue on October 12th, promising more exciting cricket action.