Womens ODI World Cup | Shafali, Deepti dazzle in Indias epochal triumph

On the eve of the ultimate, a reporter requested India captain Harmanpreet Kaur how she would rejoice if her aspect received the Women’s ODI World Cup.

“For large events, you don’t must plan something as a result of we now have visualised it and dreamt about it so many instances. It’s solely about what you keep in mind and what comes out when it occurs,” she gushed with a giant smile on her face. Slightly over 24 hours later, with a capability crowd carrying the crew in its chants and prayers on the D.Y. Patil Stadium on Sunday (November 2, 2025), the Indian girls’s crew made historical past because it beat South Africa by 52 runs within the remaining to clinch its maiden ICC crown.

Chasing a stiff 299-run goal, Laura Wolvaardt knew she wanted to be the spine of the battle.

While Wolvaardt seemed strong, India sank its tooth into the batting order on the different finish, sending a shaky Tazmin Brits again throughout the PowerPlay. Shafali Verma, an impressed bowling change, repaid her captain’s religion stunningly, dismissing Sune Luus off her second ball. A delighted Harmanpreet leapt into Shafali’s arms because the 21-year-old carried her captain across the wicket in celebration.

She would go on to take away her Delhi Capitals teammate Marizanne Kapp as properly, who, in all probability, has performed her final ODI World Cup. Desperate for companions, Wolvaardt discovered an ally in Annerie Dercksen, whose spirited six-hitting eased the frayed South African nerves.

Wolvaardt slowly introduced up a second consecutive hundred, a knock of the best high quality beneath immense strain.

Any pleasure was short-lived as Deepti Sharma’s onslaught started. A scintillating fifer adopted, beginning with the prized scalp of Wolvaardt earlier than cleansing up a lower-order struggling to outlive.

It got here all the way down to 53 runs wanted from the final 5 overs, with the total home watching with bated breath. Nadine de Klerk tried arduous with South Africa left with only one wicket in hand. She would have hoped to repeat her heroics from the league stage, however it was too tall a mountain to climb.

Earlier, Wolvaardt opted for the consolation of a chase after rain delayed toss by two hours. Smriti Mandhana paired up as soon as extra with Shafali, who, till a number of days in the past, was enjoying home cricket in Surat for Haryana after being solid away from the ODI squad a 12 months in the past.

Despite dropping Smriti after a 104-run stand, an virtually new-look Shafali motored on.

Her fast scoring now got here with a aspect of calmness, as she selected to play alongside the bottom fairly than recklessly going aerial. She hacked down a half-century and seemed set to go for the ton when previous habits kicked in, holing out to Luus at mid-off off Ayabonga Khaka within the twenty eighth.

Wickets, nevertheless, fell within the slog overs, and India, as if typically does, turned to Deepti for some magic. She linked up with Richa Ghosh to show the warmth again on the Proteas, with a strong half-century. The house aspect’s complete as soon as headed properly previous 300 fell brief, however all that was to be ultimately forgotten because the raucous celebrations ringing in India’s coronation went properly into the night time.