The Women in Blue defeated South Africa in a thrilling final to win their first World Cup title:
For years, Indian women’s cricket had dreamt of this moment — and on a magical night at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, that dream finally came true. Under the inspiring leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, India defeated South Africa by 52 runs to lift their first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup trophy, ending a decades-long wait.
As Deepti Sharma completed her five-wicket haul and Nadine de Klerk’s dismissal sealed the victory, Harmanpreet took the final catch with unshakable composure. The stadium erupted — chants of “India! India!” echoed through the stands, and tricolours waved proudly in the sea of celebration.
Shafali Verma was the star of the night, delivering an all-round masterclass with 87 runs off 78 balls and two crucial wickets. Her performance anchored India’s innings and tilted the game firmly in their favour. The triumph also marked redemption for India after heartbreaks in the 2005 and 2017 finals, where they had come agonizingly close but fell short.
The emotions on the field told their own story — tears, smiles, and hugs all at once. Richa Ghosh embraced her captain; Smriti Mandhana, Amanjot Kaur, and Renuka Thakur couldn’t hold back their tears. Harmanpreet and Mandhana, draped in the national flag, shared a moment that captured the essence of Indian cricket’s rise — one built on resilience, teamwork, and years of dedication.
This victory wasn’t just about a trophy — it was a statement of arrival. The Women in Blue had finally conquered the world.
