On the eve of the final, a reporter asked India captain Harmanpreet Kaur how she would celebrate if her side won the Women’s ODI World Cup.

“For big occasions, you don’t have to plan anything because we have visualised it and dreamt about it so many times. It’s only about what you remember and what comes out when it happens,” she gushed with a big smile on her face. A little over 24 hours later, with a capacity crowd carrying the team in its chants and prayers at the D.Y. Patil Stadium on Sunday (November 2, 2025), the Indian women’s team made history as it beat South Africa by 52 runs in the final to clinch its maiden ICC crown.

Chasing a stiff 299-run target, Laura Wolvaardt knew she needed to be the backbone of the fight.

While Wolvaardt looked solid, India sank its teeth into the batting order at the other end, sending a shaky Tazmin Brits back within the PowerPlay. Shafali Verma, an inspired bowling change, repaid her captain’s faith stunningly, dismissing Sune Luus off her second ball. A delighted Harmanpreet leapt into Shafali’s arms as the 21-year-old carried her captain around the wicket in celebration.

She would go on to remove her Delhi Capitals teammate Marizanne Kapp as well, who, in all likelihood, has played her last ODI World Cup. Desperate for partners, Wolvaardt found an ally in Annerie Dercksen, whose spirited six-hitting eased the frayed South African nerves.

Wolvaardt slowly brought up a second consecutive hundred, a knock of the highest quality under immense pressure.

Any joy was short-lived as Deepti Sharma’s onslaught began. A scintillating fifer followed, starting with the prized scalp of Wolvaardt before cleaning up a lower-order struggling to survive.

It came down to 53 runs needed from the last five overs, with the full house watching with bated breath. Nadine de Klerk tried hard with South Africa left with just one wicket in hand. She would have hoped to repeat her heroics from the league stage, but it was too tall a mountain to climb.

Earlier, Wolvaardt opted for the comfort of a chase after rain delayed toss by two hours. Smriti Mandhana paired up once more with Shafali, who, until a few days ago, was playing domestic cricket in Surat for Haryana after being cast away from the ODI squad a year ago.

Despite losing Smriti after a 104-run stand, an almost new-look Shafali motored on.

Her quick scoring now came with a side of calmness, as she chose to play along the ground rather than recklessly going aerial. She hacked down a half-century and looked set to go for the ton when old habits kicked in, holing out to Luus at mid-off off Ayabonga Khaka in the 28th.

Wickets, however, fell in the slog overs, and India, as if often does, turned to Deepti for some magic. She linked up with Richa Ghosh to turn the heat back on the Proteas, with a solid half-century. The home side’s total once headed well past 300 fell short, but all that was to be eventually forgotten as the raucous celebrations ringing in India’s coronation went well into the night.