Ind vs SA World Cup Final 2025 : Shafali, Deepti Script India’s Golden Hour
Under the floodlights at Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, India etched its name in cricket folklore, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a pulse-pounding ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final. For fans packed into the arena and millions glued to screens, the “Women in Blue” delivered a masterclass in grit, flair, and belief, capturing the nation’s first-ever world title and igniting wild celebrations across both dressing room and country.
Venue, Toss, Pitch & Match Summary
India Women vs South Africa Women — ICC Women's World Cup Final
Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai — 2 November 2025
India — Batting (1st Innings)| Shafali Verma | 87 (78) • 7x4, 2x6 |
| Deepti Sharma | 58 (58) • 3x4, 1x6 |
| Smriti Mandhana | 45 (58) • 8x4 |
| Total | 298/7 in 50.0 overs |
South Africa — Bowling (1st Innings)| Ayabonga Khaka | 2/52 (10) |
| Nonkululeko Mlaba | 1/41 (10) |
| Chloe Tryon | 1/45 (9) |
South Africa — Batting (2nd Innings)| Laura Wolvaardt (c) | 101 (98) • 11x4, 1x6 |
| Annerie Dercksen | 35 (37) |
| Tazmin Brits | 23 (35) |
| Total | 246 all out in 45.3 overs |
India — Bowling (2nd Innings)| Deepti Sharma | 5/39 (9.3) |
| Shafali Verma | 2/36 (7) |
| Sree Charani | 1 wicket |
How the epic final unfolded
India's Approach and Turning Points
Right after South Africa opted to bowl, Smriti Mandhana and the audacious Shafali Verma got India rolling with a breezy opening stand of 104 runs. Their running was sharp, and timing even sharper. As boundaries flowed, South Africa seemed rattled – all before Mandhana fell for a fluent 45. Immediately, Shafali shifted gears, peppering the off-side and launching a pair of sixes that fired up the home fans.
Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur wrestled through a testing spell, stitching vital runs, even as South African spinners tried to strangle the flow. However, Deepti Sharma’s poise under pressure allowed India to keep pushing. Her calculated sweep shots and calm between wickets guided the lower order, while Richa Ghosh’s late blitz threw the momentum squarely India’s way.
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | 45 | 58 | 8 | 0 | 77.58 |
| Shafali Verma | 87 | 78 | 7 | 2 | 111.53 |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | 24 | 37 | 1 | 0 | 64.86 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur (C) | 20 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 68.96 |
| Deepti Sharma | 58 | 58 | 3 | 1 | 100.00 |
| Amanjot Kaur | 12 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Richa Ghosh (wk) | 34 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 141.66 |
| Radha Yadav | 3* | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 15 (lb 2, wd 12, nb 1) | ||||
| Total | 298/7 (50 overs) | ||||
Fall of Wickets
1-104 (Smriti Mandhana, 17.4 ov), 2-166 (Shafali Verma, 27.5 ov), 3-171 (Jemimah Rodrigues, 29.4 ov), 4-223 (Harmanpreet Kaur, 38.6 ov), 5-245 (Amanjot Kaur, 43.1 ov), 6-292 (Richa Ghosh, 48.6 ov), 7-298 (Deepti Sharma, 49.6 ov).
South Africa's response and fightback
As India posted a daunting target of 299, the Proteas knew the chase demanded something special. No team had chased a score this big in an ICC World Cup Final. The response from Proteas was built around Laura Wolvaardt’s masterful century. Each time the game felt to be slipping, Wolvaardt threaded the gaps and ran hard, keeping South Africa alive. Yet wickets tumbled from the other end as Deepti and Shafali spun a tactical web. The final blow saw South Africa bowled out for 246, sparking unrestrained joy in blue.
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Wolvaardt (C) | 101 | 98 | 11 | 1 | 103.06 |
| Tazmin Brits | 23 | 35 | 2 | 1 | 65.71 |
| Anne Bosch | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Sune Luus | 25 | 31 | 4 | 0 | 80.64 |
| Marizanne Kapp | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Sinalo Jafta (wk) | 16 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 55.17 |
| Annerie Dercksen | 35 | 37 | 1 | 2 | 94.59 |
| Chloe Tryon | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 112.50 |
| Nadine de Klerk | 18 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 94.73 |
| Ayabonga Khaka | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14.28 |
| Nonkululeko Mlaba | 0* | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Extras | 14 (wd 12, nb 2) | ||||
| Total | 246 all out (45.3 overs) | ||||
Fall of Wickets
1-51 (Tazmin Brits, 9.3 ov), 2-62 (Anneke Bosch, 11.5 ov), 3-114 (Sune Luus, 20.2 ov), 4-123 (Marizanne Kapp, 22.1 ov), 5-148 (Sinalo Jafta, 29.3 ov), 6-209 (Annerie Dercksen, 39.3 ov), 7-220 (Laura Wolvaard, 41.1 ov), 8-221 (Chloe Tryon, 41.4 ov), 9-246 (Ayabonga Khaka, 44.6 ov), 10-246 ( | Nadine de Klerk, 45.3 ov).
India — Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deepti Sharma | 9.3 | 0 | 39 | 5 | 4.10 |
| Shafali Verma | 7 | 0 | 36 | 2 | 5.14 |
| Shree Charani | 9 | 0 | 48 | 1 | 5.33 |
| Radha Yadav | 5 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 9.00 |
India Wrote History and danced away the night
As the final wicket fell under the blazing Navi Mumbai lights, a wave of emotion swept through the stadium. Tears mixed with cheers, and the tricolour danced proudly against the evening sky. This was more than a trophy — it was a dream fulfilled, a journey completed. From heartbreaks in 2005 and 2017 to redemption in 2025, the Women in Blue finally conquered the world.
Shafali’s fearless fire, Deepti’s calm brilliance, and the team’s unbreakable spirit wrote a golden chapter in Indian cricket history. South Africa fought bravely, led by a magnificent century from Laura Wolvaardt, but destiny had already chosen its champion. For millions watching, this was not just victory — it was validation, emotion, and history, all rolled into one unforgettable night for Indian women’s cricket.
