The ICC reveals the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 fixtures. Hosted by England, the expanded 12-team event features a massive India-Pakistan clash and a historic Lord’s final on July 5.

Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: India vs Pakistan Set for June 14 at Edgbaston

India and Pakistan&rsquo;s women cricketers set aside months of political friction on Sunday as they met in Sri Lanka for the ongoing Blind Women&rsquo;s T20 Tournament, described by organisers as the world&rsquo;s first of its kind. The two teams, who share one of sport&rsquo;s fiercest rivalries, greeted each other warmly at the end of the match, offering a gesture that their fully sighted national sides have repeatedly refused in recent months.

The handshake came as a surprise. Neither team exchanged greetings at the toss, mirroring the stance taken by their mainstream men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s squads since the military clash between the two countries in May. But once the final ball was bowled, the players broke the pattern. They shook hands, exchanged compliments, and shared a brief moment of sporting calm.

The two sides even travelled to the venue in the same bus earlier in the day, an unusual scene for teams whose regular national counterparts have avoided face-to-face engagement for months. Their silent political message was unmistakable.

<h2>India Cruise to 8-Wicket Win</h2>

On the field, India produced a controlled performance to secure an 8-wicket victory. Pakistan posted 135 for eight in their 20 overs at the Free Trade Zone ground in Katunayake. India chased the target in 10.2 overs with a disciplined approach that reflected their growing confidence in the tournament.

Pakistan captain Nimra Rafique praised India&rsquo;s complete performance and acknowledged the superior execution. India captain T. C. Deepika offered equal respect and said Pakistan had played with commitment throughout the match. The players applauded each other at the post-match gathering, even though they were not allowed to speak to the media.

The match unfolded in front of only a handful of spectators. Blind Sri Lankan officials who organised the tournament, relying on the commentary rather than visuals.

<h2>A Stage That Opens Doors for Dozens of Women</h2>

Before the game, the Indian team manager Shika Shetty said the event represents far more than a trophy. She believes this inaugural World Cup will change lives.

&ldquo;This is the first-ever World Cup for blind women&hellip; I think this is one of the biggest opportunities for our entire visually impaired girls,&rdquo; Shetty said. She hopes the exposure encourages more young women with disabilities to pursue studies and sport. &ldquo;Maybe many girls with disabilities will come out from their villages,&rdquo; she added.

The Pakistan camp echoed her sentiment. Coach Tahir Mehmood Butt said the format offers a future for players with strong hearing skills. &ldquo;For the totally blind, if they have good hearing, they can become good cricketers,&rdquo; he said. He believes the sport&rsquo;s expansion has opened long-awaited doors.

Blind cricket follows its own set of rules. The players detect a rattling ball made of plastic and about the size of a tennis ball. Each team must field four completely blind players, three with minimal sight up to two metres, and four who can see up to around six metres. Bowling is underarm, and fully blind batters use partially sighted runners.

The tournament features Australia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the United States alongside India and Pakistan. The event began in India before shifting to Sri Lanka for the final leg. Colombo will host the final next Sunday.

A routine post-match handshake turned contentious in the India vs Pakistan Women’s blind cricket match, triggering debate across social platforms. Officials from both camps have responded as discussions continue.

India s Pakistan Women’s Blind Cricket Match Handshake Dominates Talking Points

The National Women&rsquo;s One-Day Cup kicks off in Faisalabad this Friday. Five squads are set to battle, but only one will lift the trophy.

The action stretches across 21 games. Each side meets the others twice before the top two march into the final. Few saw this coming after a quiet buildup, but the atmosphere shifted the moment the teams rolled into the Iqbal Stadium.&nbsp;

Stars arrive as the defending champions. They beat Conquerors by five wickets last season, a result that still stings in the rival camp. To be fair, both groups have moved on, yet you can sense that tiny spark whenever players from those squads cross paths.&nbsp;

All five teams will train at the Iqbal Stadium and the PCB High Performance Centre before the final squads shrink from twenty to fifteen. Coaches looked busy on Thursday, pacing between nets and team huddles, searching for that perfect combination. Honestly, you could see the urgency on some faces.

The total prize money is PKR 3.55 million. The champions will take home PKR 1.5 million, and the runners-up get PKR 1 million. Every match also gives PKR 25,000 to the best performer, and the tournament&rsquo;s top player earns PKR 200,000.&nbsp;

Every match will be staged at the Iqbal Stadium and the High Performance Centre Ground; only a single fixture on 22 November between Challengers and Strikers will shift to the Jawad Club Cricket Ground. A small move, but these small shifts sometimes produce surprises.&nbsp;

<h2>The Five National Women&rsquo;s One-Day Cup Teams Revealed</h2>

<h3>Conquerors</h3>

Fatima Sana (captain), Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper), Aleena Masood, Saira Jabeen, Lubna Behram, Umm-e-Hani, Iram Javed, Maham Anees, Farzana Farooq (wicketkeeper), Aqsa Bibi, Sabiha Noor, Maheen Irfan, Amber Kainat, Gull Feroza, Eisha Naeem, Esha Rahupoto, Zunash Abdul Sattar, Ayesha Bilal, Saima Malik, and Sidra Nawaz

<h3>Strikers</h3>

Nashra Sundhu (captain), Noreen Yaqoob, Rabia Rani, Amna Bibi, Aliya Riaz, Laiba Fatima, Humna Bilal, Zaib-un-Nisa Niaz, Javeria Siddique, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Areesha Noor, Samina Aftab, Mahnoor Aftab, Rehmat Noreen, Laiba Nasir, Aliza Sabir, Saiqa Riaz, Najiha Alvi (wicketkeeper), Sania Rasheed (wicketkeeper), and Ghulam Fatima

<h3>Challengers</h3>

Rameen Shamim (captain), Memoona Tipu, Ramama Nazir, Fatima Shahid, Tania Saeed, Neha Sharmin Nadeem, Eyman Fatima, Waheeda Akhtar, Aleena Shah, Huraina Sajjad, Sadaf Shamas, Tayyaba Imdad, Maham Manzoor, Jannat Rasheed, Quratulain, Sana Talib, Yusra Amir (wicketkeeper), Ayesha Zafar, Haleema Dua, and Wasifa Hussain (wicketkeeper)

<h3>Invincibles</h3>

Muneeba Ali (captain, wicketkeeper), Khadija Chishti, Neelam Mushtaq, Dua Majid, Momina Riasat, Natalia Parvaiz, Bakhtawar Asad, Fatima Khan, Nayab (wicketkeeper), Tuba Hassan, Rida Aslam, Saba Sher, Samiya Afsar, Laiba Mansoor, Minhail Javaid, Sana Urooj, Subica Shahzadi, Tasmia Rubab, Hafsa Khalid, and Ayesha Rehman

<h3>Stars</h3>

Omaima Sohail (captain), Kaynat Hafeez, Anosha Nasir, Shabnam Hayat (wicketkeeper), Diana Baig, Soha Fatima (wicketkeeper), Sidra Amin, Syeda Taskyn Fatima, Warda Yousaf, Haniah Ahmer, Noor-ul-Iman, Fatima Zahra, Syeda Masooma, Seema Gul, Arijah Haseeb, Yusra Ehtesham, Manahil Rafiq, Anam Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, and Gull Rukh

The squads are stacked with familiar names. Fatima Sana leads Conquerors, while Nashra Sundhu captains Strikers. Rameen Shamim guides the Challengers group. Muneeba Ali, always calm behind the stumps, captains the Invincibles. And the Stars once again rally behind Omaima Sohail. Each squad mixes seasoned heads with bright newcomers, which always brings unpredictable moments. That is what keeps this event lively.

The warm-up chatter is done. Now it comes down to execution, nerves, and maybe a flash of brilliance out of nowhere. That is usually what separates champions from the rest.

The National Women’s One-Day Cup kicks off Friday in Faisalabad. Five teams compete for glory, prizes, and surprises await fans at every match.

National Women’s One-Day Cup Set to Thrill Faisalabad Fans

Shafali Verma played a crucial role for India in the final of the ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup 2025. Her superlative knock of 87 runs gave the home team a strong base in the first innings of the match. It was indeed a special performance from the youngster because she only joined the team a few days ago when Pratika Rawal got injured.

Speaking about her comeback to the Indian Women&rsquo;s World Cup squad, <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/shafali-verma-open-to-bat-at-any-position/2050-5-0">Shafali Verma</a> said that the journey was not as smooth as people might think. Highlighting the struggles, she said the last one year for her after getting dropped from the team was quite tough. It was a time in which she kept believing in herself and did all the hard work to regain her batting form.

&quot;The last year was tough for me. I faced many struggles, but I kept working hard and was rewarded by God for my effort,&quot; said Shafali Verma while talking to the reporters.

Shafali Verma joined the Indian squad on the eve of the semi-final against Australia. She replaced Pratika Rawal, who was ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a severe injury in the previous match.

The young batter couldn&rsquo;t perform well in the semi-final, however, her bat churned out plenty of runs in the ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup final against South Africa. Besides batting, she also contributed strongly in the bowling by picking up 2 crucial wickets during the middle overs.

&quot;When I joined the team ahead of the semi-final, I was determined to contribute to the World Cup win,&quot; said Shafali Verma.

Talking about the final, Shafali said that she was a bit nervous before the game as her last outing against Australia wasn&rsquo;t great. However, she recognized the opportunity and composed herself accordingly, so that she could focus better on match preparation.

&quot;The final is always a big stage. Initially, I was a bit nervous, but I calmed myself, focused on my strategy, and executed it well. That helped me deliver an all-round performance.&quot; said Shafali Verma.

Speaking to the young girls at an event, she advised them to always believe in their skills. She added that hard work is the key to achieving success in any field, as it always produces positive results.

&quot;They should always work hard in whatever field they choose and have self-belief, the results will follow,&quot; said Shafali Verma.

Talking about the approach during the final of the mega event, Shafali credited her calm nature, which allowed her to execute precise batting plans perfectly.

&quot;I tried to stay calm and execute my plans, and things went as expected. The only thought was that we had to give our all in those seven hours for our country.&quot; said Shafali Verma.

Shafali Verma missed out on a well-deserved century during the first innings of the match. She was playing positively until Ayabonga Khaka removed her after making 87 runs. Missing the century, however, didn&rsquo;t bother the young batting star, as winning the World Cup was her main objective, not scoring a century in the first innings.

Shafali Verma highlighted the hard work she did over the last one year. She credited her belief which allowed her to stay motivated while being out of the Indian team.

Shafali Verma Reflects On Last Year’s Struggles And Dedication

Pratika Rawal missed the semifinal and final of the ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup 2025 due to a severe injury. The young batter was quite disappointed when this incident occurred, however, the glory of India turned her tears into smiles. When she heard that Shafali Verma would be taking her place as a specialist batter in the knockout games, she became highly optimistic. Pratika knew how capable Shafali was, and the result of the final justified her trust as well.

When India won the Women&rsquo;s World Cup at DY Patil Stadium, the whole team rallied around Pratika Rawal, who remained an important part of the squad throughout the tournament. The injured Pratika stood up from the wheelchair and celebrated the victory with her teammates jubilantly. It was a moment she had waited for years, so the celebration had to be special.

The young batter was ruled out of the tournament due to injury, but she still received a medal sent by ICC Chairman Jay Shah. This multiplied her happiness, because even after getting sidelined, she felt part of the squad that brought glory to India after a long period of time.

&quot;I have my own medal now. One of the support staff had lent me theirs temporarily because mine hadn&#39;t reached on time. Jay [Shah, ICC chairman] sir has sent me a medal, someone told me. I was so happy but people made a big deal of it online, it will take some time but will come to me.&quot; said Pratika Rawal.

Speaking about <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/shafali-verma-open-to-bat-at-any-position/2050-5-0">Shafali Verma</a>, Pratika said that she is a player who does not need motivation. She believes more in her skills while facing any type of challenge in the field. This is one of those qualities that make Shafali a very talented player who understands the requirements of international cricket quite well.

&quot;Shafali doesn&#39;t need motivation. She plays with instinct and belief. Before the final, she came up to me and said, &#39;I&#39;m really sorry you can&#39;t play,&#39; and I told her it&#39;s fine, these things happen. I had a feeling she would do something special that day.&quot; said Pratika Rawal.

Addressing her own journey in the Women&rsquo;s World Cup, Pratika said that accepting the injury reports was tough, but she still realized the complexity of the situation. It allowed her to focus more on those things that could speed up her recovery process.

&ldquo;The first thing is to accept what&#39;s happened. You can&#39;t undo it. Once I accepted the injury, I focused only on what I could control - recovery, sleep, nutrition, and supporting the team. There was disappointment, yes, but no breakdown. My dad was there, my coach (Shravan Kumar) kept checking on me, my mom and brother called every day. I have such a good support system. They didn&#39;t let me spiral or feel alone,&rdquo; said Pratika Rawal.

The young batter is feeling a bit better now. She has started doing little errands on her own, which suggests her recovery is moving along at a good pace. She is now looking forward to bat again after getting fully fit, as more opportunities are coming up in the near future.

&ldquo;I&#39;m feeling a lot better now. My X-ray is due in a few days, and I&#39;m doing most things on my own. I&#39;ve started light mobility work too. Once the doctors clear me, I&#39;ll start batting again. I&#39;m very excited to return - I miss holding the bat,&rdquo; said Pratika Rawal.

She then said that getting back to her best is the core objective now. To achieve that, she aims to return to the domestic circuit, where she is eager to perform at her full potential.

&quot;My next target is to complete rehab properly and come back for the domestic season. I don&#39;t like rushing recovery. I&#39;m a person who can bat all day and still not get tired - I want to get back to that zone.&quot; said Pratika Rawal.

Pratika Rawal is celebrating her World Cup medal with full passion. She is also confident to make a comeback by regaining her full fitness.

Pratika Rawal Turns Tears into Triumph with Her Own Medal

Following a historic World Cup victory, the Indian Women&rsquo;s team is set to receive a big cash prize from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). As per the sources, the women&rsquo;s team will get a cash prize of USD 5.8 million (INR 51 crore) for the players, support staff, and the selection committee.

&quot;On behalf of the board, I congratulate the Indian women&#39;s cricket team on this historic world championship victory. The team&#39;s resilience, talent, and togetherness have lifted our nation&#39;s hopes. This triumph vindicates the investment and faith the BCCI placed in building a world-class women&#39;s programme.&quot; BCCI president Mithun Manhas said in a statement.

For the unversed, <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/india-beat-south-africa-by-52-runs-to-win-their-1st-womens-world-cup/2094-5-0">India Women defeated South Africa</a> Women in the final of the ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup 2025 by 52 runs. It was a nail-biting match in which the home side held its nerve and came out as winners in the end. Shafali Verma was named Man of the Match, as she scored a brilliant 87 runs in the first innings by hitting 7 fours and 2 sixes.

&quot;This phenomenal achievement is the result of relentless preparation, flawless execution and the unshakable belief of our women cricketers. The coaching staff, support personnel and every state association have played a role. Congratulations to each and every member of the team. This team has made the entire cricket fraternity proud.&rdquo; said BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia.

Winning the prestigious ICC trophy at home is a big achievement for India. It is their biggest accomplishment in years after facing setbacks in 2005 and 2017. The team led by Harmanpreet Kaur is therefore receiving applause from the entire cricket fraternity of India, who were rooting for them from the start of the tournament.

Besides the BCCI cash prize, the Indian team will also receive USD 4.48 million as the winner&rsquo;s prize money from the ICC. This highlights the substantial financial rewards the Indian women&rsquo;s team will enjoy in the coming days for achieving a historic feat in the recently concluded mega event.

Indian Women’s team is set to receive USD 5.8 Million from BCCI as cash prize money. The announcement came recently after India won the World Cup final against South Africa.

BCCI Gifts USD 5.8 Million to India Women After World Cup Glory

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the Women&#39;s World Cup 2025 <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/india-beat-south-africa-by-52-runs-to-win-their-1st-womens-world-cup/2094-5-0">Team of the Tournament</a> on Tuesday. Sidra Nawaz, a Pakistani wicketkeeper, was selected as the only Pakistani on a team featuring global cricket talent.

It was composed of many Indian and South African players, with the focus on those who demonstrated outstanding performances during the Women&#39;s World Cup 2025.

Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma were also listed in the XI. Rodrigues secured her place with a brilliant 127 against Australia in the semi-final, and Deepti Sharma, the Player of the Tournament, was the first woman to score more than 200 and take more than 15 wickets in a single edition. Mandhana followed closely as the second-highest run-scorer, with consistent knocks, including a brilliant century against New Zealand.

South Africa&rsquo;s Laura Wolvaardt was chosen to lead the side after an outstanding tournament with the bat. She topped the charts with 571 runs at an average of 71.37, setting a new milestone for the most runs scored in a single Women&rsquo;s World Cup.&nbsp;

From Australia, Annabel Sutherland, Ash Gardner, and Alana King won their spots, and Sophie Ecclestone of England was awarded due to her outstanding bowling performance. Nat Sciver-Brunt was selected as the 12th player.

Amid Pakistan&#39;s generally poor performance, Nawaz stood out for her consistency and quick reflexes behind the stumps. This fabulous performance won her the only spot outside the semi-finalist teams in this XI.

ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup 2025 Team of the Tournament:

Smriti Mandhana, Laura Wolvaardt (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, Ash Gardner, Deepti Sharma, Annabel Sutherland, Nadine de Klerk, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Alana King, and Sophie Ecclestone.

Pakistan’s Sidra Nawaz was named in ICC Women’s WC 2025 Team of the Tournament, the only Pakistani among stars from Ind, SA, Aus, and Eng.

Sidra Nawaz Named in ICC Women’s WC 2025 Team of the Tournament

Shafali Verma played a vital role in India&rsquo;s victory over South Africa in the ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup 2025 Final. She performed superbly not just with the bat, but with the ball as well. The star performer of the <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/india-beat-south-africa-by-52-runs-to-win-their-1st-womens-world-cup/2094-5-0">final match</a> took valuable wickets of Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp smartly. Due to her all-round performance in the final, she was given the Player Of The Match award at the end of the contest.

The decision to give her the ball was not easy, as Harmanpreet Kaur had to take the call after considering the match situation. She eventually made the decision while trusting her instincts that Shafali would deliver for her on the big stage.

&quot;When Laura and Sune were batting, they were looking really good, and I just saw Shafali standing there. And the way she was batting today, I knew today&#39;s her day. She was doing something special today, and I just thought I have to go with my gut feeling. If my heart is saying I should give at least one over to her, I&#39;m going to give her.&rdquo; said Harmanpreet Kaur at the post-match press conference.

When Harmanpreet asked Shafali to bowl in the second innings, her reply was very energetic. This, according to the captain, changed things for India, as Shafali immediately sent back Sune Luus, who was batting confidently for South Africa.

&quot;And then I just asked her, &#39;can you bowl one over?&#39; And she was so ready, and she&#39;s always wanted to bowl for the team. I think that was a turning point for us.&quot; said Harmanpreet Kaur.

Shafali Verma came to the Indian team just before the semifinal against Australia. The injury of Pratika Rawal made way for the young batter, who was not being considered initially when the Indian World Cup squad was announced. Shafali eventually justified her selection by playing an impressive knock in the final and bowling confidently in the second innings.

&quot;When she came to the team, that time we spoke to her, &#39;we might need your two or three overs&#39;. And she was like, &#39;you know, if you give me the bowling, I&#39;m going to bowl 10 overs for the team. And that showed how confident she was to bowl for the team. Credit goes to her. She was so positive. Salute her, the way she was there for the team.&quot; said Harmanpreet Kaur.

The Indian captain also praised the performance of South Africa in the final of the Women&rsquo;s World Cup. She said the visitors played strongly in the second innings, however, they got panicked in the end, which allowed India to put more pressure on them.

&quot;We should give credit to the South Africa team. They played it beautifully. In the last moment they panicked a little bit, and that&#39;s where we caught the game. And I think we, as a group, we have been talking about, you know, once they started doing a little bit, you know, something here and there, we have to catch that. And I think that right time Deepti came and took those crucial wickets.&quot; said Harmanpreet Kaur.

Explaining how India turned things around after losing matches early in the tournament, Harmanpreet said the team always had belief, which allowed them to stay positive even during the tough moments.

&quot;Yeah, last game also we spoke that self-belief was there that, you know, even though we lost three back-to-back games, but we knew this team has something special to turn things around the table. So, I think credit goes to each and every member. They stayed positive. They knew what we have to do the next three games, and I think everybody was so involved.&quot; said Harmanpreet Kaur after winning the final of the ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup 2025.

Harmanpreet’s trust in the all-round abilities of Shafali Verma paid off in the final. She performed superbly in both innings, giving India an edge over South Africa.

Harmanpreet’s Faith in Shafali Pays Off in World Cup Triumph

It was not just a victory lap but a historical, emotional, and tearful one. As the winning Indian team went around the ground in Navi Mumbai with the ODI World Cup trophy, they paused in front of the three women who had been carrying the Indian cricket team through the most difficult days: Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, and Anjum Chopra. And all three legends said just two words, &quot;Thank you.&quot;

Jhulan Goswami sobbed tall over captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice captain Smriti Mandhana. She whispered those words with closed eyes, realizing the dream she had been pursuing all her life was finally fulfilled.&nbsp;

Mithali raised the trophy high above her head as her team cheered. Six years ago, she had come painfully close to this moment. She held it like a lifelong promise finally fulfilled. Now, with the trophy in her arms, she smiled at it with a bright, beaming smile.

Anjum Chopra broke into a cracking voice in the commentary box. She threw her arms around Harmanpreet with a heartfelt &quot;you have done it,&quot; moments after she had exclaimed &quot;finally, finally, finally&quot; on air, releasing two painful memories from the 2005 and 2017 World Cup finals.&nbsp;

For Chopra, this third time was the real &ldquo;finally,&rdquo; the one that erased the heartbreak of the past and lit up the future. What followed was a celebration that stretched from the stadium to the team hotel, filled with cheers, laughter, and tears of joy that refused to dry.

The team then took the trophy to Reema Malhotra, a former Indian cricketer who represented the country 64 times and was Harmanpreet&rsquo;s senior during the 2009 and 2013 World Cups.&nbsp;

The reunion was pure emotion. The two hugged and broke into &quot;Sadda haq, aithe rakh,&quot; a song that means &quot;give me my rights, here and now,&quot; symbolizing their fight for equality, recognition, and respect, battles that defined generations of women cricketers before them.

It was an ironic moment. The current players were appreciating the same women who had made their dreams come true in the past.&nbsp;

It&rsquo;s today&rsquo;s fast bowlers who should thank Goswami. Her grit made speed an aspiration for young girls across the nation.&nbsp;

Today&rsquo;s batters owe their inspiration to Mithali, who scored a Test double century at 19 and captained India to two World Cup finals. Harmanpreet never forgets how Chopra had taken her under wing, when she was still getting used to her place in the team, and how close she gets that she now even refers to her as a kaptaan.

&quot;Yes, Jhulan di was my biggest support,&quot; Harmanpreet said after the final. &quot;When I joined the team, she was leading it. She always supported me in my early days when I was very raw and didn&#39;t know much about cricket.

&quot;I used to play with boys, and the school principal picked me up, and within a year, I started representing the country. In the initial days, Anjum supported me a lot. I always remember how she used to take me along with her team. I learnt a lot from her and passed it on to my team.

&quot;Both of them have been a great support for me. I&#39;m very grateful that I got to share a special moment with them. It was a very emotional moment. I think we all were waiting for this. Finally, we were able to touch this trophy.&quot;

Even as she sat at the post-match press conference saying she felt &ldquo;numb,&rdquo; there was gratitude in Harmanpreet&rsquo;s voice. She was not only representing her team, but all women who wore the colors of India, families, coaches, and friends who have given up with the players, and all the pioneers who were able to create the base of Indian women in cricket by means of will alone.

Two of those pioneers Diana Edulji and Shantha Rangaswamy were watching from the stands that night at DY Patil Stadium. They are the reason the Indian women&rsquo;s team even exists in the form it does today.&nbsp;

India’s World Cup win honors Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, and Anjum Chopra, the trailblazers who made this dream possible.

India’s WC Glory, A Tribute to Mithali, Goswami & Chopra

India lifted their first-ever ICC Women&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup trophy in Navi Mumbai on Sunday night, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a gripping final. What began as a rain-delayed start turned into a night of redemption and celebration for Indian cricket, and for the women who carried its hopes.

South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt won the <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/sa-bowl-first-in-womens-world-cup-2025-final/2090-5-0">toss</a> at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy and chose to bowl first. But from the very first over, the Indian openers showed they were in no mood to wait.

Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana walked out with intent. They added 104 runs for the opening stand, the foundation that powered India&rsquo;s innings. Verma&#39;s aggressive 87 off 78 balls studded with seven fours and two sixes. She was dropped on 55, and South Africa paid dearly for it.

At the other end, Mandhana played with grace, her 45 runs coming in fluent drives and wristy flicks before she fell just short of her half-century. Together, they turned India&rsquo;s start into one of dominance and set the tone for a total that always looked above par.

Jemimah Rodrigues (24) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (20) looked solid but couldn&rsquo;t convert. South Africa&rsquo;s bowlers found rhythm in the middle overs. Ayabonga Khaka dismissed Verma and Jemimah in quick succession, dragging India from 165/1 to 171/3 and forcing them to rebuild.

That stability came through Deepti Sharma. Calm and composed, she played the kind of innings India needed. Her 58 off 58 balls was the glue that held the innings together after Verma&rsquo;s departure. Deepti&rsquo;s partnerships with Richa Ghosh steadied the innings again.

Richa Ghosh&rsquo;s cameo of 34 off 24 balls, featuring three fours and two sixes, gave India the late acceleration they were looking for.

Khaka finished with 3 for 58, the pick of South Africa&rsquo;s bowlers, while Mlaba and de Klerk took a wicket each. Still, <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/india-post-298-in-womens-world-cup-2025-final/2092-5-0">India&rsquo;s 298/7</a> looked like a mountain under lights, a score that carried weight in a World Cup final.

South Africa&rsquo;s in-form opener, Tazmin Brits, was run out for 23 by a sharp throw from Amanjot Kaur. Anneke Bosch followed soon after, and the scoreboard read 62/2.

Despite these pressure moments, the South African captain batted with elegance and determination, carrying her team almost single-handedly. Her 101 off 98 balls was an innings of technique, temperament, and timing. She became the first captain to score centuries in both a semi-final and a final of the same ICC tournament.

She found brief support from Annerie Dercksen, but India&rsquo;s bowlers, led by Deepti Sharma, struck back. Deepti removed Wolvaardt with a sharp off-break that drifted and dipped, ending South Africa&rsquo;s best hope. Her spell in the middle overs changed the rhythm of the game. She picked 5/39 in just 9.3 overs. An awesome performance first with the bat, then with the ball.

As the innings drew closer to their end, the energy in the stands shifted from tension to anticipation. Each wicket brought India closer. Each dot ball tightened the grip. And when Harmanpreet Kaur took the final catch off Deepti Sharma to dismiss de Klerk, the roar from the stands was deafening.

India bowled South Africa out for 246 in 45.3 overs to clinch a 52-run win, and with it, their maiden ICC Women&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup title.

The celebrations were so amazing to watch for the Indian crowd. Shafali Verma dropped to her knees. <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/harmanpreet-kaur-ready-for-the-world-cup-final/2085-5-0">Harmanpreet</a> hugged her teammates with tears in her eyes. The tricolor waved across the stands as chants of &ldquo;India! India!&rdquo; echoed around the stadium.

Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match for her all-round performance, 87 runs, and 2 wickets.

This night in Navi Mumbai will be remembered as the one where India finally crossed the line, lifting the cup under the floodlights, and lifting a nation&rsquo;s hopes with it.

Player of the match: Shafali Verma

Player of the tournament: Deepti Sharma&nbsp;

India lifted their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 title after defeating South Africa by 52 runs in Navi Mumbai, powered by Shafali Verma’s 87 and Deepti Sharma’s all-round brilliance.

India Beat South Africa by 52 Runs to Win Their 1st Women’s World Cup

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ICC Women's World Cup 2025

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