Sports

India Beat South Africa to Win First Women's Cricket World Cup

NOV 3 2025·Updated NOV 4 2025

Story

Above: India's players celebrate at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Nov. 3, 2025. Image credit: Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

India defeated South Africa by 52 runs to win their first ICC Women's Cricket World Cup at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, ending a 52-year wait for the title after previously finishing as runners-up in 2005 and 2017.
Independent
Sky Sports
Deccan Herald on X
Shafali Verma top-scored for India with 87 runs off 78 balls and later claimed two wickets, while Deepti Sharma contributed 58 runs and took five wickets for 39 runs to earn player-of-the-match in the final.
DAWN
The Times of India
The Indian Express
The match was delayed by two hours due to rain before South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and elected to bowl first. India posted a total of 298 for seven wickets in their 50 overs at the 45,000-capacity stadium.
guardian
The Economic Times
Wolvaardt scored 101 runs, marking her second consecutive ODI hundred and finishing the tournament with 571 runs, the most by any woman in a World Cup competition.
guardian
The Australian
India's opening partnership between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana produced 104 runs before Mandhana was dismissed for 45. Richa Ghosh contributed with 34 runs off 24 balls in the lower order to help reach the target.
Republic World
ABC Australia
The Straits Times
This victory makes India the fourth nation to win the Women's Cricket World Cup, alongside Australia, England and New Zealand. The final was the first not to feature either Australia or England.
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Sky Sports

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

Indian women's cricket remains stuck in mediocrity despite years of hype. The team consistently beats weak opponents but crumbles against quality sides, showing no improvement in batting approach, fielding, or strategic planning.

SportsCafe

Insidesport

Narrative B

India's historic World Cup victory marks the dawn of a new cricket powerhouse that will dominate the global stage. This triumph transforms women's cricket in the country and proves India can defeat any opponent when it matters most.

Independent