Deepti stars as India edge South Africa to win CWC25 title

The hosts secured a 52-run win in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup final, securing their first title in the process.

Image courtesy of ICC

India beat South Africa by 52 runs to win the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 final to claim their first-ever World Cup crown.

Chasing 299, South Africa looked in contention at one stage but Deepti Sharma’s breakthrough sparked a dramatic collapse. After she dismissed Annerie Dercksen, the Proteas crumbled from 209/5 to 246 all out, handing India control of the World Cup final.

Captain Laura Wolvaardt (101) led from the front with a magnificent century but lacked support as wickets fell regularly at the other end. Deepti was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with superb figures of 5/39 while Shafali Verma and Sree Charani chipped in with key wickets to seal a historic win for India.

Deepti Sharma had turned the tide for India with a brilliant spell that yielded three crucial wickets, including that of South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt, who had kept her side in the hunt with a superb century.

But Deepti’s double strike in a single over that included Wolvaardt and Chloe Tryon came at a decisive stage, just as the required run rate began to climb, leaving South Africa under mounting pressure.

Earlier, Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen had offered resistance with a fifty-run stand, steering the Proteas past the 200-run mark after a collapse had left them reeling at 148/5. Deepti had earlier triggered that slide by dismissing Sinalo Jafta, following up on Shafali Verma’s impactful spell where she claimed two wickets in as many overs.

Verma had shifted the momentum India’s way by striking twice in quick succession, first removing Sune Luus in her opening over then claiming the prized wicket of Marizanne Kapp. That double blow tightened India’s grip on the contest before Jafta’s dismissal deepened South Africa’s troubles.

India’s first breakthrough came through sharp fielding when Tazmin Brits was run out by a direct hit from Amanjot Kaur at the non-striker’s end. Brits and Wolvaardt had given South Africa a solid foundation with a fifty-run opening stand in the powerplay, putting the pressure on India’s bowlers early in the chase.

Sree Charani then struck in her first over to trap Anneke Bosch LBW. Despite the quick wickets, Wolvaardt continued to anchor the innings, bringing up her 39th ODI fifty and guiding South Africa past 100 alongside Sune Luus.

Sensing the need for a breakthrough, captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision to bring Verma into the attack proved inspired. The opener’s twin strikes turned the momentum in India’s favour, setting the stage for Deepti Sharma’s match-defining spell that ultimately put India in control.

In the first innings, India put up 298/7 against South Africa, posting the second-highest score in a Women's ODI World Cup final. After a commanding 100-run opening stand, India were well placed at 223/3 but South Africa fought back to keep them below the 300 mark.

Shafali Verma (87) led the way with a fine knock while Deepti Sharma (58) steadied the innings towards the end. Richa Ghosh (34) added a lively cameo that gave India late momentum.

For South Africa, Ayabonga Khaka (3/58) was the standout performer with the ball while Nonkululeko Mlaba, Nadine de Klerk and Chloe Tryon picked up a wicket each.

Having lost the toss, India got India off to a brisk start with Shafali Verma and Smirit Mandhana putting up a 100-run partnership for the first wicket.

Mandhana (45), who looked in fluent touch, fell just short of her half-century but Verma kept the innings steady. She had a stroke of luck when Anneke Bosch dropped her on 55, a miss that proved costly as Verma went on to score a crucial knock that anchored India’s innings.

But South Africa found a way back into the game as Khaka struck twice in quick succession, removing two set batters in Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues to put India in a brief spot of bother. Every time India tried to build a partnership, the Proteas found a way to break it.

However, Deepti Sharma held the innings together from one end and her composure allowed India to recover after the middle-order wobble, even as wickets continued to fall around her. Toward the end, Richa Ghosh provided the late spark India were hoping for, finding boundaries and pushing the total closer to 300.

However, just when India seemed set for a big finish, Ghosh fell in the penultimate over and Nadine de Klerk delivered a brilliant final over, conceding only six runs and denying India a late flourish. Only 12 runs came off the last two overs, leaving India slightly short of what looked possible at one stage.

South Africa earlier won the toss and elected to bowl first after rain interrupted proceedings at the Dr DY Patil Stadium, forcing the toss for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final between India and South Africa to be postponed.

After a delay of more than an hour, the toss took place at 4:32 pm IST with the match beginning 5 pm IST.