India opened the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup with a 59-run DLS win over Sri Lanka. They scored 269/8 in 47 overs and bowled Sri Lanka out for 211 in 45.4. Deepti Sharma made 35 and took 3/32 in 10 overs. India followed with an 88-run win over Pakistan, scoring 247 in 50 overs before dismissing them for 159 in 43. Kranti Gaud took 3/24 in nine overs.
The two wins were followed by three defeats. South Africa chased India’s 251 in 49.5 overs, reaching 252/7 in 48.5 to win by three wickets; Smriti Mandhana scored 83 off 92 balls. Australia then chased 330 in 48.5 overs, finishing on 331/7 in 49 to win by three wickets, despite Mandhana’s 112 off 107. England beat India by four runs in the next match. Chasing 288/8, India finished on 284/6; Deepti scored 44 and took 3/41 in 10 overs.
India returned to winning ways against New Zealand. Pratika Rawal made her maiden World Cup century, scoring 122 off 134 balls, while Mandhana added 109. India posted 340/3 in 49 overs, and New Zealand managed 271/8 in 44. India won by 53 runs under DLS. Rain then stopped the Bangladesh match from reaching a result. Bangladesh made 119/9 in 27 overs, India were 57/0 after 8.4, and Radha Yadav took 3/18 in eight overs.
That game also brought a major setback. Chasing a ball near deep midwicket, Rawal’s foot caught a damp patch of turf, badly twisting her ankle and knee. She was carried off and ruled out the next day. Shafali Verma was called up as an emergency replacement. She had been dropped from the ODI setup a year earlier after a dip in form during the home series against New Zealand. Aged 21, she was at home and was not following the tournament closely.
Shafali’s domestic performances and T20 league runs brought her back into consideration. The selectors wanted an explosive batter to match Australia’s aggressive approach, and the Event Technical Committee approved her addition. Within 24 hours, she moved from outside the squad to India’s playing XI for the semi-final, reuniting with opening partner Mandhana. Her unexpected return felt like “divine intervention” or “God’s sign”. Her fearless batting helped ease the pressure on India during the record chase.
Australia scored 338 in 49.5 overs in the semi-final. Jemimah Rodrigues remained unbeaten on 127 off 134 balls, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur made 89. India reached 341/5 in 48.3 overs, winning by five wickets with nine balls left. It was the highest successful chase in women’s ODI history and the first 300-plus chase in a World Cup knockout. India also eliminated the defending champions to reach the final.
The final took place on November 2, 2025, at Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai. South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl. Shafali scored 87 off 78 balls and Deepti made 58 off 62 as India posted 298/7 in 50 overs. Laura Wolvaardt scored 101, but Deepti took 5/39 in 9.3 overs and Shafali claimed 2/36. South Africa were all out for 246 in 45.3 overs, giving India a 52-run win and their maiden title. Shafali was Player of the Match; Deepti was Player of the Series.
Deepti finished with 215 runs and 22 wickets, becoming the first cricketer in men’s or women’s World Cup history to score 200-plus runs and take 22 wickets in one edition. Her 22 wickets were the most by an Indian in a single World Cup. Mandhana’s 434 runs passed Mithali Raj’s 409 in 2017 for the most by an Indian woman in one edition. She also became the fastest and youngest player in women’s cricket to reach 5,000 ODI runs, and the first Indian woman to score 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year.
The final drew 185 million digital viewers on JioHotstar, matching the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup final as the most-watched women’s sporting broadcast globally. India’s maiden title followed early wins, difficult defeats, Rawal’s injury, Shafali’s unexpected return and a record semi-final chase. Shafali’s 87 and two wickets, Deepti’s all-round contribution and Mandhana’s milestones shaped India’s first World Cup triumph.
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