Indian women create history, win ODI World Cup after beating South Africa by 52 runs

Public Lokpal
November 03, 2025

Share by

Indian women create history, win ODI World Cup after beating South Africa by 52 runs

NAVI MUMBAI: The Indian women's cricket team kept its date with history by winning its first-ever World Cup with a 52-run victory over South to script a golden chapter in the country's pantheon of sporting achievements here on Sunday.

Shafali Verma, the 21-year-old, who till last week wasn't even in the reserves, created memories of a lifetime by scoring 87 in India's 298 for 7 and then grabbed a couple of crucial wickets to restrict the Proteas Women to 246 in in front of a packed DY Patil Stadium.

The seasoned Deepti Sharma (5/39) and young Shree Charani (1/48) also did their bit under extreme pressure to usher in the most memorable day for women's cricket in the country.

For Harmanpreet, the lady who has done way more for Indian women's cricket than anyone can envisage, knows how much it hurts to lose a final as it happened eight summers back and her girls didn't let her down.

As she latched on to Nadine de Klerk's offering while back pedaling at extra cover, Ian Bishop fittingly called the moment "inspiring generations". It couldn't have been more poetic with AR Rahman's rendition of 'Vande Mataram' reverberating across the stands.

At the other end was the regal Laura Wolvaardt, who gave everything by scoring 101 off 98 balls.

This isn't just another World Cup triumph but something whose social impact will only be understood may be two decades from now.

Eleven special women, led by their firebrand skipper, from now on are not just role models but a beacon of hope for every girl from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, who aspire to pick up the willow and the white cherry, knowing that the sky is the limit.

PTI