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India defeated South Africa in the final of the Women's World Cup 2025 by 52 runs as they lifted their historic first-ever title. In the summit clash, one of the players who shone for the Women in Blue was star all-rounder Deepti Sharma. She won the Player of the tournament for her impeccable performance throughout the tournament. She was crucial with both bat and ball, as she has been throughout the tournament. She achieved a feat in the final, that no cricketer, male or female, has ever achieved. Coming in to bat at no.5 Deepti Sharma hit 58 runs from 58 balls as she played a crucial role in helping India reach 298/6 in the first innings. She was the pick of the bowlers as she clinched a five-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 5/39. Deepti thus became the first player in history - male or female - to hit a half-century and pick up a five-wicket haul in the final of a World Cup. She also finished with 215 runs and 22 wickets, becoming the first player in history to score 200+ runs and take 20+ wickets in a single edition of the Women's World Cup. ALSO READ: Rohit Sharma Gets Emotional As India Lift Maiden Women's World Cup Trophy Deepti Sharma, Shafali Varma All-Round Shows Guide India To Maiden Women's World Cup South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first in a match that was delayed by rain. India got off to a brilliant start courtesy openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Varma. While Mandhana got out for 45, it was Varma who carried on the momentum for India. She slammed 87 from 78 deliveries in an innings studded with 7 fours and 2 sixes. This was her highest-ever ODI score, and she also created history by becoming the youngest Indian with a 50+ score in a World Cup final. The duo stitched a century stand for the opening wicket. After the fall of both openers, the innings failed to pick up momentum, with Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kair all falling without big scores. Deepti held one end to score an unbeaten fifty. Richa Ghosh also played a crucial knock of 34 from 24 balls to push India to 298, the second highest-total in Women's World Cup final history. South Africa were going good in the first quarter of the second innings, until Shafali Varma came and spun her magical arm picking up two wickets. However, Laura Wolvaardt continued keeping the South Africa innings alive as she smashed her 11th ODI hundred. However, the wickets fell at the other end, as they were all for 246. Deepti was the pick of the bowles with a five-wicket haul Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Sports, Cricket and around the world.
