The era-defining 13th edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, hosted by India and Sri Lanka from 30th September to 2nd November 2025, was about to come to an iconic conclusion, after a new winner apart from Australia, England, and New Zealand were on the cusp of being crowned as the World Champions in the ODI format.
Shafali, Deepti, and Richa power India to highest total in a World Cup Final
The Indian openers, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, took the calculative approach after skipper Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and opted to bowl first at the DY Patil Stadium. The pair scored at a rate of over 6 runs an over in the powerplay. The duo were all set to take the innings deeper before unleashing an onslaught. They became the only Indian opening pair with a 100+ stand (men or women) in any ICC World Cup knockout match. Sharp glove work from Sinalo Jafta ended Smriti Mandhana’s promising stay (45 off 58 balls) at the crease in the 18th over of the innings. Chloe Tryon provided the first breakthrough for South Africa.
Jemimah Rodrigues joined Shafali Verma at the crease, and the pair took them past the 160-run mark with another crucial 62-run partnership for the 2nd wicket. Shafali Verma (87 off 78 balls) became the youngest at the age of 21 years and 278 days to score a half-century in an ICC ODI World Cup final (men or women). A tired shot from Shafali Verma resulted in her departure, as the power and the elevation went missing as she tried to clear the mid-off region. She fell just 13 runs short of her maiden century in the format.
Ayabonga Khaka struck again to remove Jemmimah Rodrigues (24 off 37 balls), India’s superwoman from the semi-final, to provide the 3rd breakthrough for South Africa in the 30th over of the innings. Deepti Sharma joined skipper Harmanpreet Kaur at the crease, and the duo stitched another crucial 52-run partnership, which took India past the 220-run mark. Nonkululeko Mlaba got the big scalp of the opposition skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur (20 off 29 balls) as she cleaned her up to provide a massive 4th breakthrough for South Africa in the 39th over of the innings.
Deepti Sharma’s composed half-century (58 off 58 balls), Richa Ghosh’s fireworks (34 off 24 balls) guided India to their highest total in the ICC ODI World Cup final, 298/7 in 50 overs. Ayabonga Khaka (9-0-53-3), Nonkululeko Mlaba (10-0-47-1), and Nadine de Klerk (9-0-52-1) were the stand-out performers with the ball for South Africa. Marizanne Kapp (10-1-59-0) was impressive with the ball yet again for her side.
Laura Wolvaardt stands tall yet again with consecutive knockout centuries
Chasing a total of 299, the South African openers Tazmin Brits and skipper Laura Wolvaardt got their side off to a positive start with a 51-run opening partnership. A moment of brilliance on the field from Amanjot Kaur ended Tazmin Brits (23 off 35 balls) stay at the crease in the 10th over of the innings, providing the crucial first breakthrough for India.
A forgettable tournament for Anneke Bosch continued as she departed for a duck in the 12th over of the run chase. Sune Luus joined skipper Laura Wolvaardt at the crease, and the duo stitched a much-needed 52-run partnership for the 3rd wicket, which also took them past the 100-run mark.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur pulled off a tactical masterstroke, backing her gut instincts with the introduction of Shafali Verma into the attack. And it worked wonders as she wasted no time in sending Sune Luus (25 off 31 balls) back to the pavilion, breaking a partnership that was taking ominous proportions.
India continued to build pressure through the spin duo of Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma in operation. The golden arm of S Verma landed another decisive blow, sending Marizanne Kapp (4 off 5 balls) in the 23rd over of the innings, to provide the massive 4th breakthrough for her side. Sinalo Jafta (16 off 29 balls) succumbed to the pressure, leading to her departure in the 30th over of the innings.
Annerie Derksen, who had a quiet tournament so far, stepped up with 35 off 37 balls, looking determined to take South Africa over the line alongside skipper Laura Wolvaardt. However, Deepti Sharma scripted her redemption after dropping Dercksen, earlier in the contest, delivered with an excellent yorker length delivery to send her packing, a sigh of relief for the off spinner in the 40th over of the innings.
Skipper Laura Wolvaardt continued to fight the lone battle for the Proteas as she ran out of partners. She also became the first skipper to register consecutive centuries in the semi-final as well as in the final (101 off 98 balls). She potentially stood as a differentiating factor between a maiden ODI World Cup title for the two proud nations. Deepti Sharma returned and landed a hammer blow by sending the opposition skipper, Laura Wolvaardt, back to the pavilion in the 42nd over of the innings, as the Navi Mumbai crowd erupted with roars echoing the whole stadium. The fans, as well as the players, sensed a special moment on the cards.
Proteas rooted for Nadine de Klerk (18 off 19 balls) to deliver a repeat of her league stages heroics with the bat to guide South Africa to glory. However, it wasn’t to be for her and the Laura Wolvaardt-led side this time around as the Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur fittingly completed the catch to wrap up the South African innings, at 246, falling 52 runs short of the target with more than four overs in the bank. With that scalp, Deepti Sharma (9.3-0-39-5) completed her 5-wicket haul. Shafali Verma (7-0-36-2) and Shree Charani (9-0-48-1) were impressive with the ball for India, as the Women in Blue scripted a glorious golden chapter with every ounce of blood and sweat on the field, the years of hard work, dedication, and commitment for the country, focusing on a united goal.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side not only fulfilled a billion dreams, but also etched her name alongside the league’s global cricket legends Kapil Dev, in terms of becoming the first Indian captain (women) to lead India to their maiden ICC title at the senior level, and MS Dhoni, in terms of becoming the first Indian captain to clinch an ICC title as a host nation. The title triumph not only gave us a defining moment in the women’s game in the country but also applied an ointment to the years of heartbreaks, so near, yet so far moments.
Shafali Verma was awarded the Player of the Match for her sensational blockbuster show 87 (78 balls) with the bat and 7-0-36-2 with the ball. Deepti Sharma was named the Player of the Tournament as she scored 215 runs with the bat and picked 22 wickets with the ball, leading the bowling charts in the tournament.
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