In a historic evening at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai, the Indian women’s cricket team clinched their maiden ICC Women’s ODI World Cup title, defeating South Africa comprehensively by 52 runs. The victory marked a long-awaited moment of redemption for India, years after heartbreaks in previous finals.

Posting a total of 298 for 7—the second-highest in the tournament’s history—India held their nerve to restrict the Proteas to 246 in 45.3 overs. While South African captain Laura Wolvaardt played a magnificent 98-ball century, India’s all-round brilliance ensured victory. Shafali Verma starred with 87 runs and 2 wickets for 36 runs, while Deepti Sharma contributed 55 runs and took 5/39, playing a pivotal role in India’s historic triumph.

The win not only ended India’s long wait for a World Cup crown but also established them as the fourth nation to lift the ICC Women’s ODI trophy, joining the elite company of Australia, England, and New Zealand. It was a defining moment for Indian women’s cricket, burying the ghosts of 2005 and 2017 finals and inspiring a generation of aspiring cricketers across the country.

Among the many congratulatory messages, the most prominent came from cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar, one of India’s biggest cheerleaders and a global icon of the game. Posting on X, he wrote:

"1983 inspired an entire generation to dream big and chase those dreams.

Today, our Women’s Cricket Team has done something truly special. They have inspired countless young girls across the country to pick up a bat and ball, take the field and believe that they too can lift that trophy one day.

This is a defining moment in the journey of Indian women’s cricket.

Well done, Team India. You’ve made the whole nation proud."

 

Kohli-Anushka’s message for girls

Star cricketer Virat Kohli shared a message for the champions on his Instagram handle. It read:

“The girls have created history and I couldn’t be more proud as an Indian to see the hard work of so many years come to life finally. They deserve all the applause and a big congratulations to Harman and the whole team for achieving this historic feat. Also congratulations to the whole squad and the management for the work behind the scenes. Well done India. Enjoy the moment to the fullest. This will inspire generations of girls to take up the sport in our country. Jai Hind.”

Meanwhile, his spouse and actor Anushka Sharma beamed with pride and stated, “Champions of the world! Super women have made this historic moment happen! What a game! Love you girls.”

Harmanpreet Kaur’s fearless leadership, combined with stellar performances across the squad, ensured India’s place in the pantheon of cricketing champions. With this historic victory, the Women in Blue have firmly stamped their authority on the global stage, heralding a bright future for the sport in the country.