For years, the Indian women’s cricket team was the side that came agonisingly close but never quite crossed the line. They reached the World Cup final in 2005 and lost. In 2017, they were leading comfortably, only to collapse and lose by just nine runs.
There were also several heartbreaking semi-final exits. They were labelled “underdogs” or described as a team that was always “almost there”. It hurt, because the talent was undeniable. But 2025 was different. It was the year everything finally changed.
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The defining moment arrived on November 2 at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Batting first, India posted a strong total of 298. Shafali Verma led the charge with a commanding 87, while Deepti Sharma added a crucial 58. When South Africa began their chase, India’s bowlers took complete control. Deepti Sharma delivered a spell for the ages, picking up five wickets for just 39 runs. South Africa were bowled out for 246, handing India a historic 52-run victory.
It was India’s first-ever Women’s World Cup title. No more “almosts”. The trophy was finally theirs.
The nation erupted. Millions tuned in, and the moment felt like a turning point for women’s cricket in India. The journey to the podium was cinematic. After being written off early, India fought back in the latter stages of the group phase, qualified for the semi-finals as the last team, and then produced one of the greatest upsets in cricket history.
India stunned defending champions Australia by chasing down a record 339 runs in the semi-final the highest successful run chase in any World Cup knockout match, men’s or women’s. In the final, Shafali Verma (87) and Smriti Mandhana (45) laid the foundation, Deepti Sharma accelerated with a brisk 58, and the bowlers sealed the contest with precision.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur lifting the trophy symbolised the end of years of heartbreak and near-misses, making India Women world champions for the first time.
A Season of Individual Brilliance
While the team achievement stood tallest, individual performances defined the tournament. Smriti Mandhana enjoyed a dream year in ODIs. She finished as the top run-scorer of 2025 with over 1,300 runs and registered the fastest ODI century by any Indian man or woman reaching 100 in just 50 balls against Australia, eclipsing even Virat Kohli’s record.
Deepti Sharma was nothing short of legendary. She was named Player of the Tournament after becoming the first cricketer in history, across men’s or women’s cricket, to score over 200 runs and take more than 20 wickets in a single World Cup. Her all-round excellence, capped by a five-wicket haul in the final, defined India’s triumph.
Shafali Verma’s journey was equally compelling. Dropped earlier in the year, she returned as a replacement for the semi-final and rose to the occasion. Her 87 off 78 balls in the final was the highest score by an Indian in a Women’s World Cup final. She also chipped in with two crucial wickets and earned Player of the Match honours a comeback story for the ages.
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Following the triumph, the BCCI announced a ₹51 crore cash reward for players, coaches, support staff, and selectors. This was in addition to the ICC prize money of approximately ₹40 crore. The announcement marked a significant step toward pay parity and recognition for women’s cricket in India. It was not just a reward, but a statement.
This came alongside the ICC’s landmark decision, under Chairman Jay Shah, to increase the Women’s World Cup prize pool by 300%. The winners’ cheque of USD 4.48 million (approximately ₹42 crore) exceeded the amount awarded to Australia’s men’s team for their 2023 World Cup win. Women’s cricket was no longer being treated as secondary.
Pros and Cons of the 2025 Surge
The Triumphs (Pros): India finished the year with a 65.22% win rate in ODIs, highlighting remarkable consistency. The World Cup victory sparked a surge in grassroots interest, prompting the BCCI to commit further investment in infrastructure. Most importantly, defeating Australia in a knockout match shattered a long-standing psychological barrier.
The Challenges (Cons): Sustaining this dominance will be a challenge as senior players like Harmanpreet Kaur approach the latter stages of their careers. Additionally, increased scheduling has placed physical strain on multi-format players such as Mandhana and Deepti.
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2025 was the year the Women in Blue stopped chasing history and started making it. With a World Cup trophy in the cabinet and a ₹51 crore reward behind them, the narrative has shifted permanently.
The question is no longer whether Indian women can compete with the best. It is whether the rest of the world can keep up with India.
Author: Pari Shukla
