The 13th edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 concluded with an epochal moment at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, as India lifted their maiden title, scripting history against Laura Wolvaardt’s South Africa, who finished as valiant runners-up after a riveting 52-run defeat. In the aftermath, Wolvaardt’s post-match press conference provided deep insights into the Proteas’ campaign, her own captaincy journey, and the defining moments of cricket’s new era.
Where the Final Slipped Away
Wolvaardt pinpointed the decisive phases with measured candour. “Yeah, I thought we were in the chase for a very long time. I think we were pretty neck-and-neck with them; me and Dercksen’s partnership was pretty big; I thought we were gonna take it through to the end. Yeah, then she just got out right as we were trying to sort of launch into the back ten, and then I went out too soon after,” she explained, underlining the fine margins in the middle order collapse.
Her belief in the lower order persisted: “I still thought Zoe (Chloe Tryon) and Nades (Nadine de Klerk) could do it together. I think we left Nadine a little bit too much to do by herself, but yeah, I think we were right in that game for a lot of it,” revealing the team’s fighting spirit right until the close.
The Evolution of Leadership
Throughout the campaign, Wolvaardt emerged as a leader shaped by resilience and collaborative bonds. “It’s been a long month or six weeks, I think. Obviously, just bouncing back from that game was really good from the group. I think just the resilience that we’re able to show as a team has been pretty big,” she shared. She credited coach Mandla Mashimbyi, stating, “I think I’ve worked well with coach Mandla, I think we complement each other pretty well,” emphasising how adaptability and unity powered South Africa’s recovery after early setbacks.
Keeping Calm Under Pressure
South Africa’s composure was tested as the Indians kept their nerve in clutch moments. “You could definitely feel the pockets of pressure when we were batting, they take a few wickets, and then you really feel the pressures on you… I thought we did very well for a lot of that game, perhaps crumbled a little bit at the end there,” Wolvaardt admitted. India’s disciplined approach with the ball and sharp fielding were factors. “They bowled and fielded very well, they held their nerve, so they stayed pretty calm as well,” she acknowledged, reflecting on what separated champions from challengers.
Standout Personal Accomplishments
Wolvaardt’s campaign resonated with batting mastery as she notched consecutive centuries in knockout matches, helping anchor South Africa’s charge. “I think my ODI cricket has sort of come a long way in this tournament. I’ve really tried to sort of explore that a bit. It hasn’t been my best year in ODI cricket; was maybe a bit too conservative. Happy with the different options that I was able to bring in throughout this tournament,” she reflected. Her conscious effort to expand her scoring zones, especially on the leg side, paid dividends in Indian conditions: “I think today I scored quite a lot of leg-side runs, trying options from T20 cricket in ODI cricket, so I’m happy I was able to bring some of that in.”
She ended as the leading run-scorer of the tournament with 571 runs at a strike rate of 98.78 and an average of 71.37 in 9 innings, including a couple of centuries and 3 half-centuries in the tournament. She also became the first captain to score consecutive centuries in the semi-final as well as in the final.
South Africa’s World Cup Journey: Building for the Future
Wolvaardt placed South Africa’s campaign in the context of long-term growth: “After that first one at Newlands, domestic contracts were introduced, that’s really big for our depth as a team. Now, we’re making finals consistently, whereas before it was maybe a one-time thing. I’m really proud that we’re able to reach three in a row. Hopefully, we can keep reaching finals and one day we can win one,” she said, drawing attention to a legacy of sustained excellence and hope.
Key Turning Point: Shafali Verma’s Spell
A vital axis in the contest was Harmanpreet Kaur’s tactical move, introducing Shafali Verma with the ball. “Didn’t really expect her to bowl much today, so a bit of a surprise factor… she just kind of bowled with the front of the hand and really slow and was able to pick up a couple of wickets,” Wolvaardt confessed. The Proteas were derailed by the part-timer’s double strike, highlighting the unpredictable dynamics of a final: “In a World Cup final, you don’t want to lose wickets to a part-time bowler; she bowled pretty well, frustrating, I guess, because it’s not really the person you planned for.”
As India celebrated a title that echoed across the country, becoming the first side outside Australia, England, or New Zealand to win the women’s ODI crown, South Africa departed as proud runners-up, led by a skipper whose words spoke of pain, pride, and promise. “It’s been a great campaign for us; to make it all the way to the final is really awesome, we’ll still look back at this tournament as a lot of positives. We played some really good cricket throughout,” Wolvaardt concluded, her vision fixed firmly on breaking new ground in seasons to come.
The ability to play spin, often cited as a shortcoming for South Africa, turned into a strength. “I’m pretty proud of the way that we were able to play spin, to make it to the final of a World Cup in subcontinent conditions, our seamers bowled pretty well, different players stepping up at different moments, Nadine (Nadine de Klerk) was excellent, Kapi (Marizanne Kapp) was great for us,” Wolvaardt noted, celebrating depth and adaptability.
Laura Wolvaardt’s post-match reflection was not only about heartbreak but also about growth, camaraderie, and South Africa’s rise on the world stage. The Proteas walked away with heads held high, having advanced the legacy of South African cricket in both spirit and substance.
The calm, composure, and vision of their leader ensured South Africa left Navi Mumbai with not just the runners-up medal, but the gold-standard promise, they will be back, stronger than ever, to chase the dream that, for now, remains just out of reach.
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