India’s long-awaited quest for a Women’s World Cup title reached its pinnacle on Sunday as Harmanpreet Kaur and her emotional teammates celebrated a historic victory over South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium. With a decisive 52-run win, India not only claimed the coveted trophy but also overcame a rollercoaster journey filled with setbacks, including three consecutive defeats in the league stage.
The victory marked a stunning turnaround for India, especially after a record-setting semi-final performance against defending champions Australia that saw them chase down a formidable target. Their campaign culminated in a thrilling final against a South Africa side equally eager for their first World Cup title.
Shafali Verma emerged as an unlikely hero during the final, scoring a whirlwind 87 runs and claiming two crucial wickets, which proved pivotal as South Africa mounted their chase. Despite the outstanding knock from South Africa’s captain, Laura Wolvaardt, who scored her second consecutive century of the tournament with 101 runs, India seized control after Wolvaardt’s dismissal. Deepti Sharma provided an exceptional performance as well, scoring 58 runs and taking 5 wickets for 39 runs across the match, helping her secure the player-of-the-tournament accolade with 22 wickets and 215 runs throughout the competition.
In a moment filled with emotional resonance, Smriti Mandhana expressed the magnitude of their achievement: “It’s still sinking in… to be the champions, I’m not able to process it.” Her reflection echoed the sentiments shared by her teammates, who felt the weight of their past disappointments in previous finals.
Wolvaardt, despite her individual success during the tournament, praised her team’s journey and gameplay, acknowledging, “We’ve played some brilliant cricket throughout but we were outplayed today; India played fantastically well.”
India’s triumph represents more than just a title; it signifies a monumental step forward in women’s cricket in the nation, inspiring a new generation of players while emphasizing the growing support for women’s sports. As fans and players revel in this victory, the spirit of triumph reinforces the hope for even greater achievements in the future, making this moment a landmark in the history of Indian cricket.