In a moment of overwhelming joy and relief, Indian cricket stars Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana were seen in tears following India’s historic Women’s World Cup 2025 triumph. The Women in Blue secured their maiden ICC trophy by defending a formidable total of 298 against South Africa in the final match held at Navi Mumbai’s Dr DY Patil Sports Academy. This victory marks the end of a long wait for an international title, overcoming previous final and semi-final heartbreaks.
The emotional scenes unfolded as captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana embraced, sharing the culmination of years of dedication. The cameras captured their profound emotions as the final wicket fell, confirming India’s dominant performance. The team’s journey has been one of resilience, marked by close calls in past tournaments, including the 2017 World Cup final and the 2020 T20 World Cup final, making this win even sweeter.
India’s bowlers delivered a stellar performance to defend their score. Deepti Sharma was instrumental, claiming a brilliant five-wicket haul that dismantled South Africa’s middle order. Shafali Verma also contributed crucial wickets, stifling any momentum the opposition attempted to build. Their combined efforts ensured South Africa fell short by 52 runs, securing the championship for India.
The foundation for this victory was laid by the batters. India posted a strong total of 298 for 6, powered by impressive half-centuries from Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma. Verma’s aggressive 87 off 78 balls, coupled with Sharma’s steady 58 from as many deliveries, provided a significant impetus. An opening partnership of 104 runs between Verma and Smriti Mandhana set a positive tone for the innings.
Individual accolades were also significant, with Shafali Verma named Player of the Match for her all-round contribution. Deepti Sharma was deservedly awarded Player of the Tournament, recognizing her exceptional performance with both bat and ball throughout the competition, scoring 212 runs and taking 22 wickets.