Ace India batter Virat Kohli, on Sunday, November 2, extended his heartfelt wishes to the women’s cricket team, who went on to win their maiden ICC title, the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup. They beat South
Africa by 52 runs in the final in Navi Mumbai to script history for the country.
Indian women’s cricket touched its Everest as years of toil and near-misses culminated in an evening of redemption and history for the hosts.
India’s win in the 13th edition of the global event made them only the fourth team to lift the Women’s ODI World Cup, joining Australia (7 titles), England (4) and New Zealand (1) in the elite group of champions.
“The girls have created history and I couldn’t be more proud as an Indian to see the hard work of so many years come to life finally. They deserve all the applause and a big congratulations to Harman and the whole team for achieving this historic feat,” Kohli posted on his Instagram account.
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With the win, Harmanpreet’s side laid to rest the heartbreaks of the 2005 and 2017 finals, sealing India’s long-awaited World Cup victory, a defining milestone for women’s cricket in the nation.
After posting 298/7, the second-highest total in tournament history, India held their nerve to bundle out South Africa for 246 in the 46th over.
The Proteas’ resistance was led by skipper Laura Wolvaardt’s elegant 98-ball 101, but stellar all-round efforts from Deepti Sharma (55 and 5/39) and Shafali Verma (87 and 2/36) powered India to their moment of glory.
India’s win was defined by two cricketers with contrasting paths. Deepti, the dependable workhorse, emerged as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker (21), showing her skill and composure when it mattered most.
Shafali, on the other hand, was a story of second opportunities, drafted into the team from outside the preferred group after Pratika Rawal’s injury.
