New Delhi: In a historic moment for Indian cricket, the national women’s team created history by winning their first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling final at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday night. The triumph sparked nationwide celebrations, with BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia announcing a Rs 51 crore reward for the players and support staff, hailing it as a “monumental achievement that will elevate Indian women’s cricket to new heights.”
IPL chairman Arun Dhumal lauded the team’s feat, drawing comparisons with India’s iconic 1983 men’s World Cup triumph. “What the men’s team achieved in 1983, the Indian women have recreated today. This historic victory will provide a tremendous boost to women’s cricket in India and take the sport to unprecedented heights,” Dhumal told IANS.
Batting first, India posted a formidable 298/7. Shafali Verma led the charge with a fluent 87, while Deepti Sharma contributed a composed 58. Smriti Mandhana (45) and Richa Ghosh (34) added crucial runs, with Mandhana and Verma sharing a 100-run opening partnership that laid a solid foundation. South Africa managed a late fightback but fell just short of India’s total.
Chasing 299, South Africa began confidently with an aggressive fifty-run opening stand between Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt. A direct hit from Amanjot Kaur removed Brits, turning the game in India’s favour. Young pacer Sree Charani struck in her first over, dismissing Anneke Bosch LBW, followed by Shafali Verma’s brilliant spell, which saw the key wickets of Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp fall in quick succession. Deepti Sharma delivered a dream performance, claiming 5 for 39 to dismantle South Africa’s middle order. Despite Wolvaardt’s fighting century (101), the Proteas were bowled out for 246 in 45.3 overs.
Shafali Verma’s all-round brilliance earned her the Player of the Final award, as India celebrated a landmark 52-run victory.
For Shafali, the victory was particularly poetic. Initially left out of the ODI World Cup squad, she was drafted in only after Pratika Rawal suffered an injury. From heartbreak in past tournaments—including the 2017 final at the MCG, where she had dropped a crucial catch—to redemption in Navi Mumbai, Shafali seized her moment, scoring 87 runs and taking two key wickets in the final.
The celebrations were not only about the present but also a tribute to the legends who laid the foundation. Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, who never won a World Cup in their illustrious careers, were honoured by the current team during celebrations. Mithali lauded the BCCI, former secretary Jay Shah—now ICC chairman—and the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for transforming women’s cricket in India.
“The BCCI and the WPL have played a huge role in creating this platform. Honouring former cricketers during the opening match was a gesture that recognised their contributions, allowing the current generation to shine,” Mithali said. She also highlighted the WPL’s role in preparing players for high-pressure tournaments and praised the BCCI’s move to ensure equal prize money, signalling that women’s cricket now stands on par with the men’s game.
The victory sent shockwaves across the country. Gautam Gambhir, India’s men’s team head coach, and T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav extended their heartfelt congratulations. “You have not just created history, you’ve created a legacy that will inspire generations of girls! #LegendsForever,” Gambhir tweeted. Yadav added, “Our Women in Blue have shown the world what passion, perseverance, and belief can achieve. Congratulations!”
Under Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership, India finally exorcised the ghosts of past heartbreaks in 2005 and 2017. With star performances from Mandhana, Shafali, Deepti Sharma, and others, India’s maiden Women’s World Cup win marks not just a triumph in cricket, but a new dawn for women’s sports in the country.
