Navi Mumbai, November 2, 2025 - India has clinched its first-ever Women's Cricket World Cup, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling final at the DY Patil Stadium. The victory marks a historic moment for Indian women's cricket, sparking celebrations across the nation. At the heart of this triumph was Shafali Verma, whose stellar all-round performance earned her the Player of the Match award.
Verma's journey to this defining moment was anything but straightforward. After being dropped from the national side last year due to inconsistency in the 50-over format, she staged a remarkable comeback. She topped the batting charts in the Senior Women's One Day Trophy and the One Day Challenger Trophy, proving her mettle and forcing her way back into the team. Called in to replace the injured Pratika Rawal just before the semi-final, the 21-year-old seized the opportunity with both hands.
In a post-match interview, Verma reflected on her journey and performance, stating, "I said at the start that God has sent me here to do something good, and that was reflected today". Her words resonated with the packed stadium and millions watching at home, capturing the sense of destiny that seemed to surround her. "Very happy that we won, and I cannot express it in words. It was difficult, but I had confidence in myself – that if I could stay calm, I could achieve anything," she added.
Verma's contribution to India's victory was immense. Opening the innings, she smashed a brilliant 87 off 78 balls, setting a strong foundation for India's total of 298/7. Her aggressive batting and 104-run partnership with Smriti Mandhana put South Africa under pressure from the outset. Later, with South Africa's chase gaining momentum, Captain Harmanpreet Kaur handed Verma the ball, a decision that proved to be a masterstroke. The part-time off-spinner struck immediately, dismissing Sune Luus with a sharp caught-and-bowled before removing Marizanne Kapp in her next over. She ended with figures of 2 for 36 in seven overs.
Kaur explained her decision to bring Verma into the attack, saying, "I saw Shefali standing there, and the way she batted earlier – I just knew it was her day. My heart said, “Give her one over". She added, "She's always wanted to contribute with the ball, and that over changed everything for us".
Verma's journey began in Rohtak, Haryana, where she disguised herself as a boy to play cricket due to the lack of academies for girls. She rose to prominence with her performances in the Women's T20 Challenge 2019. Later that year, at the age of 15, she became the youngest debutant for India in a T20 International match. Since then, she has broken numerous records, including becoming the youngest female cricketer to score 1000 T20I runs. In 2023, she led the Indian U19 team to World Cup glory, their first ICC silverware.
Coach Amol Mazumdar hailed Verma's performance, describing it as "magical". "Semi-final, final - she turns up every time. Runs, wickets, catches - complete performance. Couldn't be prouder," he said. Mazumdar also acknowledged the significance of India's World Cup win, calling it a "watershed moment" for women's cricket in India.
Verma's success story is one of resilience, hard work, and a firm belief in her abilities. Her performance in the World Cup final will undoubtedly inspire a generation of young girls in India to pursue their dreams. As she said after receiving the Player of the Match award, "It was very important for my team and myself, and I just wanted to make my team win".
