A Breakthrough Win Years in the Making
India won its first Women’s Cricket World Cup in Navi Mumbai, defeating South Africa by 52 runs and ending a wait that stretches back nearly five decades. The result capped a volatile campaign. India entered the semifinals as the last qualifier after a three match slide in the group stage, then toppled defending champion Australia to reach the final. In the decider, the hosts managed a rain delay, the pressure of a packed stadium, and the form of a resilient opponent. Much of the squad comes from small towns and modest homes, and their journeys shaped the team that lifted the trophy. For millions watching, the victory felt like a tipping point for women’s sport in a cricket loving country.
India posted 298 for 7 from 50 overs after being sent in. Shafali Verma, recalled as injury cover only a week earlier, struck 87 off 78 balls and added a 104 run opening stand with Smriti Mandhana. Deepti Sharma played a run a ball 58 and later took 5 for 39, finishing with a tournament leading 22 wickets. South Africa’s chase closed at 246 in 45.3 overs. Captain Laura Wolvaardt made 101 and kept the pursuit alive until Sharma had her caught by Harmanpreet Kaur in the 42nd over. Two turning points in the field came from Amanjot Kaur, who ran out Tazmin Brits with a clean pick up and throw, then held a juggling catch at deep midwicket. Renuka Singh applied early pressure with a tight new ball spell of eight overs for 28. The crowd, close to 40,000 at DY Patil Stadium, roared with every breakthrough.
Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s captain, lived through past heartbreaks and years of expectation. She described the relief of the win and the intent that follows.
“We were waiting for this moment, and now this moment has come. Now we want to make this a habit.”
Shafali Verma, named player of the match, said her mind was clear from the first over as she looked to set the tone. Deepti Sharma spoke of staying calm under pressure and credited her family for the strength behind her performance.
How the Final Was Won
India’s innings began with intent. After a brief rain delay and a cautious first few overs, Mandhana’s smooth timing and Verma’s clean hitting forced South Africa’s seamers to adjust lengths. The pair brought up a century opening stand, giving India the base needed for a big total in a one day international (ODI) final. Once Mandhana fell, Verma kept the tempo with crisp drives and two towering sixes, before Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur aimed to steady the middle overs. Kaur’s dismissal for 20 put a check on the scoring rate, but Sharma rebuilt with authority. Her 58, at exactly a run per ball, lifted India beyond par and left a serious asking rate for the chase. Richa Ghosh offered late acceleration, and India closed at 298 for 7, the second highest total in a Women’s World Cup final.
With nearly 300 to defend, India needed control with the new ball and energy in the ring. Renuka Singh set the tone by shaping deliveries back into the right handers and conceding very little.
“I enjoyed myself with both bat and ball. We were not relaxed at any time, but we were calm. I dedicate this trophy to my parents,” Deepti Sharma said after collecting the last wicket and completing figures of 5 for 39.
Amanjot Kaur’s sharp run out removed Tazmin Brits when South Africa looked settled. Later, with Wolvaardt past her hundred and the chase still flickering, Amanjot steadied under a swirler at deep midwicket, juggled twice, and clung on. Sharma then struck twice at the death to close the door. South Africa, who had kept the rate manageable through partnerships around Wolvaardt, slipped from a promising 209 for 5 to 246 all out.
The Semifinal That Changed Belief
India’s charge to the title gathered pace in the semifinal against Australia. The defending champions had been unbeaten and carried an aura that had stung India in past knockout games. India embraced the contest. Rodrigues compiled a composed and courageous 127 not out, a timely reminder that this batting group has more gears than flair alone. The attack bowled tight lines at key moments and controlled the chase. That result knocked down a mental barrier and reframed what was possible.
India still needed resilience after a patchy group stage. The win over Australia created momentum and unity of purpose. Training plans were simplified, roles clarified, and fielding standards raised. Players spoke about clearer minds and trusting strengths. By the time the team returned to Navi Mumbai, belief had real weight.
Small Towns, Big Dreams That Built a Champion
Behind the medals and confetti is a fabric of family sacrifices and quiet courage. Many players learned cricket in village lanes or tight city bylanes, often with second hand bats and seamless balls. Parents ignored whispers about what girls should or should not do. Coaches made time and found ways to keep practice going. The final’s celebrations were also a salute to these stories.
Harmanpreet Kaur of Moga
Kaur grew up in Moga in Punjab in a household that prized discipline and hard work. Her father, Harmandar Singh Bhullar, played club cricket, worked as a clerk at the district court, and sold milk from the family’s buffaloes. Quality gear was often out of reach. Her first coach recalled sessions with old bats and whatever balls were available. Neighbors wondered why a girl should spend hours on cricket. Her father let her play and kept the faith. When the title was sealed, Kaur sprinted to find him in the stands and leapt into his arms. That image felt like a bridge from those open grounds in Moga to the world stage in Navi Mumbai.
Amanjot Kaur and a Bat Carved at Home
Pace bowling all rounder Amanjot Kaur’s path began in her father Bhupinder Singh’s carpentry workshop in Punjab. When money for a bat was not there, he carved one from leftover wood. The questions from neighbors came anyway. He kept working. She kept playing. In the final, her hands were decisive. The run out of Brits stopped South Africa’s early rhythm. Later, her calm catch with the game on the line released a roar that felt like relief. On her India debut in January 2023, she hit an unbeaten 41 at number seven to lift the side from 69 for 5, then spoke modestly about her father’s sacrifices. The moment in Navi Mumbai carried all of that with it.
Radha Yadav and the Kandivali Lane
Left arm spinner Radha Yadav grew up in a small home above a shop in Kandivali, a suburb of Mumbai. After she earned her first BCCI contract at 19, she helped buy the family a small grocery named the Radha Mini General Store. It stands only steps from the pavement stall where her father, Omprakash Yadav, once sold milk and vegetables. Space at home was tight, ambition was not. Her elder sister Sonee, who also played cricket, gave up the game so Radha could continue. After the win, a photograph went viral of Omprakash beside head coach Amol Muzumdar during the team’s lap of honor, the World Cup trophy balanced on his head. One frame held years of effort, belief, and the pride of a neighborhood.
Renuka Singh Thakur and the Mountain Academy
Fast bowler Renuka Singh Thakur lost her father, Kehar Singh Thakur, when she was three. Her mother Sunita took a government job to support the family. Renuka learned cricket in village lanes, then moved to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association’s residential academy in Dharamshala, among the first full time training bases for India’s women. Distance from home, injuries, and the demands of fast bowling tested her resolve. Coaches reminded her of her mother’s sacrifices and the value of persistence. In the final she delivered eight overs for 28 runs. The spell was quiet and clinical, exactly what India needed at the top.
The Rise of Women’s Cricket in India
Change gathered pace after 2017. Central contracts allowed national players to focus full time on cricket. Better domestic structure and more tournaments expanded the talent pool. The launch of the Women’s Premier League, backed by major private investment that approached 500 million dollars for franchise rights and broadcast packages, created new income, exposure, and pressure to perform. Training facilities improved, academies invested more, and girls in schools could finally point to visible role models.
Tournament economics shifted too. The World Cup prize pool reached into eight figures in dollars, a scale unheard of only a few years ago, and India’s board announced large bonuses for the champions. Selection honors reflected the team’s imprint on the event. Deepti Sharma, Mandhana, and Rodrigues were named in the Team of the Tournament. Wolvaardt topped the run charts with 571 runs. Mandhana finished second with 434. Alana King’s seven for 18 stood as the best bowling figures at any Women’s World Cup. Annabel Sutherland finished with 17 wickets, and Ashleigh Gardner contributed with bat and ball.
Verma summed up the clarity that drove India’s batting in the final and her return to the XI late in the tournament.
“God sent me to do something good, and that was reflected today. I only focused on making runs today. My mind was clear.”
Players used the platform to celebrate families and coaches who stayed with them through lean years. The team spoke openly about pressure, expectation, and the new standards they want to set.
Money, Audiences and the WPL Catalyst
The Women’s Premier League has been a powerful accelerant. Franchise owners put real value on women’s teams, and broadcast partners committed prime slots that lifted viewership. That combination raised player wages, improved travel and accommodation, and made professional support staff the norm. The result was visible in this World Cup. Fielding standards rose. Tactical plans were sharper. Competition for places hardened skills.
Stadium scenes matched the stakes. Supporter groups like the “Bucket Hatters” brought color and noise to domestic games, then to the World Cup. Long lines formed outside the doors for India matches. TV networks ran countdowns as interest surged. For girls watching from village squares and schoolyards, the sights and sounds felt like permission to dream and permission to try.
Challenges That Remain
Organizers still face basic hurdles. Scheduling during the monsoon invited washouts that hurt neutral matches and storylines. Crowds peaked for India games, but dropped for others that also needed atmosphere. Some venues and calendars will need better planning for next time. The sport is learning how to build a full event, not only a string of big days around one team.
Barriers for women and girls persist off the field. Access to safe practice spaces, equal pitch time, quality coaching for age group players, and representation in decision making remain work in progress. Better promotion for non India fixtures can help sustain interest across the board. With a national team that just reached the summit, the incentive to fix these gaps has never been greater.
National Reaction and Official Recognition
Celebrations erupted across India after the final. Fireworks lit city skies and processions flowed through neighborhoods. Messages poured in from leaders and athletes. President Droupadi Murmu praised the team’s determination and said the moment would lift Indian sport.
“This watershed moment will take women’s cricket to even higher performances. The girls have made India proud.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a special achievement and highlighted the team’s discipline and unity.
“A spectacular victory that will motivate future champions to take up sports. The performance in the final was marked by great skill and confidence. The team showed exceptional teamwork and tenacity throughout the tournament.”
Former players and coaches who nurtured earlier generations took quiet satisfaction. For them, late nights in empty stands and modest training camps finally gave way to a gold standard moment that felt fully shared by the country.
The Bottom Line
- India beat South Africa by 52 runs in Navi Mumbai to win its first Women’s Cricket World Cup.
- India scored 298 for 7, led by Shafali Verma’s 87 and Deepti Sharma’s 58. South Africa was all out for 246, with Laura Wolvaardt scoring 101.
- Deepti Sharma took 5 for 39 and finished with 22 wickets for the tournament. Shafali was named player of the match.
- India reached the final by defeating defending champion Australia in the semifinal. Jemimah Rodrigues hit 127 not out in that game.
- Small town stories powered the team, including Harmanpreet Kaur of Moga, Amanjot Kaur’s homemade first bat, Radha Yadav’s family shop in Kandivali, and Renuka Singh Thakur’s training at the HPCA academy.
- Around 40,000 fans witnessed the final at DY Patil Stadium, and TV and digital audiences surged across the tournament.
- The Women’s Premier League and central contracts boosted pay, facilities, and performance standards for Indian players.
- Deepti Sharma, Smriti Mandhana, and Jemimah Rodrigues made the Team of the Tournament. Wolvaardt led the run charts with 571 runs.
- India’s leaders praised the victory, calling it a proud moment for the nation and an inspiration for future athletes.
- Scheduling and promotion need attention, including avoiding monsoon windows and building support for non India games.
