India (Commonwealth Union)_ The Indian women’s cricket team made history on Sunday night, winning their first ICC Women’s ODI World Cup with a thrilling 52-run victory over South Africa at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. The victory, which followed weeks of strong performances, was a watershed event in Indian cricket, sparking celebrations across the country. India batted first and scored an incredible 298 for 7 in 50 overs. Opener Shafali Verma led the way with a brilliant 87 off 91 balls, while Deepti Sharma contributed 58. Their collaboration provided the groundwork for a figure that was too high for the South Africans.
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South Africa began confidently chasing 299 for victory, but crumbled under the weight of India’s disciplined bowling assault. Skipper Laura Wolvaardt stood out with a superb 101 off 98 balls, including 11 boundaries and a six. However, once she left, South Africa’s prospects evaporated rapidly. The side was subsequently knocked out for 246 in 45.3 overs, giving India a well-earned 52-run win. Deepti Sharma also shone with the ball, finishing with a five-wicket haul while giving only 39 runs in 9.3 overs. Shafali Verma supplied two wickets for 36 runs, while Nallapureddy Charani took one wicket. Their efforts guaranteed that India won the match with confidence and claimed the prized trophy for the first time in history.
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The victory triggered a wave of congratulations from leaders, athletes, and fans alike. Accordingly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to praise the team’s victory, describing it as a “spectacular win” that will inspire the future generation of athletes. Speaking at the Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025, the Prime Minister began by congratulating the team on their triumph. “This event is about science,” he said, “but first, let me talk about India’s spectacular victory in cricket. The entire nation is overjoyed with the success of our women’s team. This is India’s first Women’s World Cup appearance, and we are really pleased with them. Their success will motivate millions of young people to dream big and trust in themselves.” Modi also expressed his appreciation on social media, tweeting, “A fantastic win by the Indian team in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Finals. Their performance was characterized by high competence and confidence. The team showed exceptional teamwork and tenacity throughout the tournament. Congratulations to our players—this historic win will motivate future champions.”
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President Droupadi Murmu also joined the nation in celebrating the team’s achievement. In her congratulatory message, she hailed the cricketers for “creating history” and said their success would elevate women’s cricket to new heights. “My heartiest congratulations to every member of the Indian women’s cricket team,” her post read. “They have played consistently well, and today their hard work has paid off. This landmark victory will take women’s cricket to even higher levels. I admire the way our girls have made India proud.”
Leaders across the political spectrum expressed similar joy and admiration. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called it a “moment of pride,” writing, “Our Women in Blue have made history and touched a billion hearts. Your courage, grit, and grace have brought glory to India and inspired countless young girls to dream fearlessly. You didn’t just lift a trophy—you lifted a nation’s spirit.” Union Minister Piyush Goyal celebrated the win, saying, “We have scripted history! What a memorable victory by our women’s cricket team. Their extraordinary effort has brought immense pride to every Indian.”
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor described the victory as “amazing scenes on TV,” noting that it was “a wonderful day for Indian cricket and an inspiring moment for the Women in Blue.” From the states, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called it a “historic victory” and offered “heartfelt congratulations to the world champion Indian women’s cricket team.” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also praised the team, saying, “The entire nation is proud of our Women in Blue. Their fight and consistency throughout the tournament will inspire generations of young girls. You have proved yourselves a world-class team, and we look forward to many more triumphs.”
India’s long wait for a women’s ODI World Cup trophy is finally over, and the celebrations demonstrate how important this event is to the country. For millions of fans, this is more than just a sporting victory; it signifies years of dedication, perseverance, and growing strength in women’s sports. As the confetti fell in Navi Mumbai, it was evident that this victory would be remembered not only as India’s first but also as the start of a new era for women’s cricket in the country.
