The atmosphere at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai was electric as the Indian women's cricket team clinched their first-ever World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 52 runs. The victory sparked celebrations across the nation, with cricketing legends Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar leading the chorus of praise, drawing parallels to India's historic 1983 World Cup win.
Virat Kohli, known for his passionate support of Indian cricket, expressed his immense pride in the team's achievement. "The girls have created history, and I couldn't be prouder as an Indian to see the hard work of so many years come to life finally," Kohli wrote on Instagram. He further emphasized the inspirational impact of this win, stating, "This will inspire generations of girls to take up the sport in our country". His wife, Anushka Sharma, also joined in celebrating the victory, posting, "Champions of the world! Super women have made this historic moment happen! What a game! Love you girls".
Sachin Tendulkar, who was present at the venue along with Rohit Sharma, echoed Kohli's sentiments, highlighting the defining nature of this moment for Indian women's cricket. "1983 inspired an entire generation to dream big and chase those dreams. Today, our Women's Cricket Team has done something truly special," Tendulkar stated. He emphasized the impact of the win on aspiring cricketers, "They have inspired countless young girls across the country to pick up a bat and ball, take the field and believe that they too can lift that trophy one day".
India's journey to the World Cup title was marked by outstanding performances, with Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma playing pivotal roles in the final. Shafali Verma, who was included in the team as an injury replacement, scored a crucial 87 runs and took two wickets. Deepti Sharma contributed with both bat and ball, scoring 58 runs and taking five wickets. Their contributions helped India post a total of 298/7. In response, South Africa was bowled out for 246 in 45 overs, with Laura Wolvaardt's century in vain.
The victory was particularly sweet for a team that had previously reached the final in 2005 and 2017 but had fallen short. This win not only marks India's first Women's World Cup title but also signifies a monumental shift in the landscape of women's cricket in the country.
Other cricketers also congratulated the team. Rishabh Pant acknowledged the team's fighting spirit, while former South African great AB de Villiers admired India's record-breaking chase. Current men's head coach Gautam Gambhir lauded the performance.
The Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 was the 13th edition of the tournament, hosted by India for the fourth time. This was also the first women's World Cup final that did not involve either Australia or England. The historic win is expected to have a profound impact on the future of women's cricket in India, inspiring a new generation of cricketers and further fueling the sport's growth in the country.
