India has defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Final to register their first-ever victory in the tournament.
After two campaigns as Runners-Up, the Women in Blue have finally earned their maiden World Cup title, this time under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur.
Shafali Verma scored 87 runs, which was instrumental in them reaching the total of 298 in the first innings, and while the Proteas captain, , would score a ton, it just wasn’t enough to push them to the target.
IND vs SA World Cup Final: A Glimpse Of The 1st Innings
Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana opened the innings and provided India with just what they would have been looking for – a fiery start.
Blasting boundaries every few deliveries, they recorded a 100-run opening stand. While Mandhana would depart at 45, Shafali would go on to score 87.
One she was gone, the run rate came down dramatically, and there were even boundary droughts here and there.
Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur, who put in crucial performances in the semi-final against Australia, failed to fire with the bat today.
Having said that, Deepti Sharma, with a half-century, and then Richa Ghosh provided a final push that saw the Women in Blue reach 298 in 50 overs.
South Africa Fizzle Out After Solid Start
South Africa’s openers, Laura Wolvaardt (the captain) and Tazmin Brits, made for a 51-run opening stand.
They could have taken the match away easily from India, had they continued any longer. Their skipper even went on to score a 100. However, there were wickets falling around her ever since the opening pair was broken up.
And once she was gone (in the 42nd over), it was all but done for South Africa.
It is also worth noting that the fielding was below par from the Women in Blue, which piled unneccesary pressure at certain points in the innings. However, they ultimately managed to bowl out the Proteas, winning their first World Cup.
