India Creates History – Wins Women’s ODI Cricket World Cup for the First Time

Mumbai | November 2, 2025

India has created history. The Indian Women’s National Cricket Team lifted the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup trophy for the first time, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling final at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.

The victory ended a 52-year wait since the first Women’s World Cup was played in 1973, making India the new world champions in women’s One Day International (ODI) cricket.

The Road to Glory

India and Sri Lanka co-hosted the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup from September to November. India’s journey began with a mix of wins and setbacks in the group stage. A must-win match against New Zealand turned the campaign around when Smriti Mandhana (109) and Pratika Rawal (122) powered India to a record 340 for 3, sealing their semi-final qualification.

In the semi-final, India produced one of the greatest chases in women’s cricket history. Australia posted 338 runs, but India replied with a record chase of 339 for 5, thanks to a stunning unbeaten 127 by Jemimah Rodrigues and a captain’s knock of 89 by Harmanpreet Kaur. This became the highest successful run chase ever recorded in women’s ODI cricket and ended Australia’s title defense.

The Grand Finale

In the final on November 2, South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first. India posted a commanding total of 298 for 7 in 50 overs.
Top performances came from:

• Shafali Verma: 87 runs off 78 balls
• Deepti Sharma: 58 runs off 58 balls and later 5 wickets
• Smriti Mandhana: 45 runs
• Richa Ghosh: 34 runs off 24 balls

South Africa, chasing 299 for victory, were bowled out for 246 runs. Deepti Sharma’s all-round brilliance earned her the Player of the Match award. Her five-wicket haul sealed India’s 52-run win and the world title.

Champions After Decades of Waiting

India’s women had twice reached the World Cup final before – in 2005 and 2017 – but finished runners-up both times. This triumph finally turned heartbreak into history.

The title also marks India’s first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup win, a breakthrough moment more than five decades after the tournament began in 1973.

Under Head Coach Amol Muzumdar, and led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur with vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, the team showed consistency, tactical clarity, and fearless cricket.

Complete Indian Squad – ICC Women’s World Cup 2025

Players: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Sneh Rana, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Harleen Deol, Kranti Goud, Shree Charani.

Support Staff:
Head Coach – Amol Muzumdar
Bowling Coach – Aavishkar Salvi
Fielding Coach – Munish Bali
Analyst – Aniruddha Deshpande

Records and Highlights

• India’s first Women’s ODI World Cup title in history.
• Highest successful run chase in women’s ODI cricket – 339 runs vs Australia in the semi-final.
• Jemimah Rodrigues 127* – one of the greatest World Cup innings under pressure.
• Deepti Sharma – five-wicket haul in the final plus a fifty with the bat.
• Shafali Verma – added to the squad late as a replacement and top-scored in the final with 87.
• Smriti Mandhana – centuries in both group and knockout stages, finishing among India’s top run-scorers.

Historical Significance

India’s 2025 win is monumental for women’s cricket. It closes decades of near-misses and proves that Indian women’s cricket has arrived at the top of the global game. The achievement also highlights the depth of India’s domestic system, the maturity of its young players, and the strategic guidance of Amol Muzumdar’s coaching group.

For millions of fans across India and the diaspora, the scenes of the Indian players lifting the trophy in Navi Mumbai will remain unforgettable. Social media was flooded with posts celebrating “India’s daughters” for creating history after 52 years of World Cup cricket.”