The 2025 ICC Women World Cup will forever be remembered as the tournament where Indian women’s cricket finally fulfilled its destiny.
After two decades of near-misses heartbreaks in 2005 and 2017, semifinals in 2022 Harmanpreet Kaur’s side lifted India’s first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup on home soil, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the grand final at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.
It was a campaign built on resilience, balance, and self-belief. Across seven matches, India displayed the full spectrum of a champion side batting firepower, bowling depth, and an unwavering temperament under pressure. From a shaky group stage to a commanding semifinal and an unforgettable final, India’s 2025 triumph was a story of evolution and redemption.
Steady Beginnings: Beating Sri Lanka and Pakistan
India opened their campaign confidently in Guwahati, facing Sri Lanka in their first group match. Batting first, India posted 269/8 in 47 overs, with key contributions from the top order. Rain interruptions meant the match was decided via the DLS method, but India’s bowlers ensured control, restricting Sri Lanka to 211. The 59-run victory provided the perfect launchpad.
Five days later, the team traveled to Colombo for a high-voltage clash against arch-rivals Pakistan. In a match that tested nerves, India once again asserted dominance scoring 247 and bowling Pakistan out for 159. The 88-run win was comprehensive, with the seamers making early inroads and the spinners closing it out. Two wins from two matches India looked assured and settled, ticking both batting and bowling boxes.
Mid-Tournament Reality Check: Three Consecutive Defeats
As the tournament moved to Visakhapatnam, India faced their first real tests. Against South Africa, the batting faltered slightly, managing just 251, and despite flashes of brilliance in the field, Laura Wolvaardt’s composed 80 guided South Africa to a tight 3-wicket win with seven balls remaining.
The next fixture, against defending champions Australia, mirrored a similar storyline. India posted an imposing 330, powered by Smriti Mandhana’s fluent 90, but Australia led by Alyssa Healy’s counter-attacking 89 chased it down with three wickets in hand.
Then came the narrowest heartbreak of all. Against England in Indore, India fell short by just four runs, despite Harmanpreet Kaur’s defiant 78 and Richa Ghosh’s late cameo. India finished on 284/6 chasing 289, leaving their campaign hanging by a thread.
Three consecutive defeats brought familiar anxieties. For the first time, qualification seemed uncertain. Critics questioned team selection and middle-order stability. But inside the dressing room, there was quiet belief. “We knew we weren’t far away,” said Harmanpreet after the final. “We were losing small moments, not matches.”
In a do-or-die game at DY Patil Stadium, India produced their most clinical group-stage performance against New Zealand. Batting first, the hosts piled up 340/3, with Jemimah Rodrigues (122*) and Smriti Mandhana (98) crafting a masterclass in controlled aggression.
The bowlers then ensured there were no late jitters New Zealand managed 271/8, as India won by 53 runs (DLS). The win reignited India’s campaign and boosted their net run rate at a crucial stage.
Washed Out in Navi Mumbai But Momentum Remained
India’s final group fixture against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain after just 27 overs. Bangladesh were 57/0 chasing 126 when the downpour forced an early end. Though frustrating, India secured qualification for the semifinals finishing second in their group.
That no-result, in hindsight, provided a much-needed breather before the knockout stage. Players later admitted that the short break allowed them to reset mentally after a taxing first round.
Semifinal Showdown: Beating Australia at Last
If India’s World Cup history had one recurring pain point, it was Australia. They had been India’s stumbling block in multiple editions. But on October 30, 2025, at DY Patil, the ghosts of 2017 and 2022 were finally buried.
Batting first, Australia posted 338, with Meg Lanning and Beth Mooney stitching a century stand. Chasing under lights, India produced one of their finest batting displays in World Cup history.
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave India a fearless start, before Harmanpreet Kaur (79) and Richa Ghosh (68)* sealed the chase with nine balls remaining. The skipper’s calm leadership and Richa’s unflappable finishing led India to 341/5, a five-wicket win that sent shockwaves across world cricket.
“This was more than a semifinal,” Harmanpreet said afterward. “It was about belief. About showing that we can beat anyone.”
November 2, 2025 the night Indian women’s cricket ascended to greatness. Facing South Africa, the team approached the final with composure and confidence. The DY Patil Stadium, packed to the rafters, roared every time an Indian player took the field.
Batting first, India posted 298/7, built around Shafali Verma’s 87 (78) a fearless innings that combined aggression with maturity. Deepti Sharma (55*) provided late fireworks, ensuring India reached a challenging total.
When South Africa began their chase, they found early resistance from Renuka Singh and Radha Yadav. But the defining twist came when Harmanpreet handed the ball to Shafali Verma an unexpected move that turned into genius.
The part-time spinner struck twice in three overs, removing Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp. Her figures of 2/36 complemented her batting heroics perfectly, earning her the Player of the Match award.
Laura Wolvaardt’s century (101) threatened to shift momentum, but India’s bowlers, led by Deepti Sharma and Renuka Singh, tightened their grip. South Africa folded for 246, handing India a 52-run victory and their maiden world title.
India’s World Cup win wasn’t built on dominance alone it was built on resilience. From the heartbreak of group defeats to stunning wins in the knockout rounds, the team grew tougher with each challenge.
Deepti Sharma, with her all-round brilliance, was named Player of the Tournament, while Shafali Verma’s story became the symbol of redemption a player dropped from the squad just days before, recalled by fate, and rising to define the final.
For captain Harmanpreet Kaur, the victory was more than silverware. “This isn’t just our win,” she said, lifting the trophy under the floodlights. “It’s for every girl who dared to dream.”
From Guwahati to Navi Mumbai, the journey had come full circle India, world champions at last.
