India make history — India Women beat South Africa by 52 runs to win ICC Women’s World Cup 2025

DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai — 2 November 2025

India lift their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup at DY Patil Stadium. Photo: AP/Reuters/ESPN (replace with your image source).

Match result: India 298/7 (50 overs) defeated South Africa 246 (45.3 overs) — India win by 52 runs.

Player of the match: Shafali Verma (87 & 2/36). Player of the tournament: Deepti Sharma (all-round show with the bat and ball).

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Quick summary

India posted a commanding 298 for 7 in their 50 overs thanks to a powerful opening stand and key middle-order contributions. Shafali Verma led from the front with a brilliant 87, while Deepti Sharma steadied the innings with a valuable 58. In reply, South Africa fought back — with captain Laura Wolvaardt scoring a battling 101 — but India’s bowlers, led by Deepti Sharma, held firm to bowl South Africa out for 246 and seal a historic victory in front of a packed DY Patil crowd.

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Scorecard (key lines)

Team	Score
India	298/7 (50)
South Africa	246 (45.3)

Top India performers: Shafali Verma 87 & 2/36; Deepti Sharma 58 and 5/39. Top South Africa performer: Laura Wolvaardt 101.

Key moments

• Shafali’s all-round impact: A quickfire 87 set the tone; she also picked up crucial wickets to halt South African momentum.
• Deepti’s match-winning day: A composed 58 with the bat and a five-wicket haul with the ball — a rare big all-round performance that swung the final.
• Wolvaardt’s valiant century: Laura Wolvaardt’s 101 kept South Africa in the hunt, but lack of consistent partnerships after her knock made the chase impossible.
• Fielding and finishing: India’s fielding moments and late wickets in the chase turned the game in their favour and ignited celebrations among home supporters.

What this means

India’s victory is a landmark moment for women’s cricket in the country — the first ICC Women’s World Cup title and a likely catalyst for greater attention, investment and viewership in the women’s game across India. Expect celebrations, national pride, and a spike in young girls taking up the sport.

Quotes & reactions

From the dressing room and press: Players and coaches praised the team’s resilience across the tournament; opponents congratulated India on a well-earned title. (See match reports and post-match interviews from major outlets.)

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If you liked this match report — share on Twitter or comment below. Full official scorecard & detailed stats: check ESPNcricinfo and Reuters match reports linked in the sources.

Sources: Reuters, ESPNcricinfo, NDTV, The Guardian, Indian Express.