When India lifted the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025India on November 2, 2025, it wasn’t just a victory—it was a seismic shift in global women’s cricket. The team defeated South Africa by 52 runs in a nail-biting final at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, marking India’s first-ever Women’s World Cup title. For a nation that had watched its men’s team lift the trophy in 1983 and again in 2011, this win by the women’s side felt like destiny finally catching up. The crowd, over 60,000 strong, erupted as Shefali Verma smashed an unbeaten 87 off 104 balls, anchoring India’s chase of 287. It was the kind of moment that changes legacies—and it happened on home soil.
History Made on Home Soil
The tournament, hosted across seven Indian cities from September 30 to November 2, 2025, was the most-watched Women’s World Cup in history. Over 12 million viewers tuned in for the final alone. India’s journey began with a rain-affected win over Sri Lanka in Guwahati, where Deepti Sharma was named Player of the Match for her all-round brilliance. But it was the team’s resilience in the face of pressure that defined their campaign. After losing their opening group match to Australia, they won six of their next seven games, including a stunning chase of 338 against the defending champions—something no team had done in World Cup history.
Star Performances and Heartbreaks
The tournament belonged to India’s batting line-up. Smriti Mandhana finished as the top run-scorer with 365 runs in seven matches, averaging 60.8, while Pratika Raval chipped in with 308 runs before a hamstring injury ruled her out of the semi-final and final. Their partnership in the middle order became the backbone of India’s attack. Meanwhile, South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt, who scored 301 runs in the group stage, carried her team to the final with two consecutive centuries. But in the final, she was dismissed for just 12 by Jemimah Rodrigues’s cleverly disguised slower ball—a moment that shifted the momentum entirely.
On the bowling front, Renuka Singh was India’s secret weapon, taking 19 wickets in seven matches at an economy of 4.1. Her spell of 4/22 against Australia in the group stage remains one of the most devastating in recent memory. Australia’s Alana King, meanwhile, stunned the tournament with 7/18 against South Africa—a performance so rare, it was compared to Shane Warne’s 7/24 in the 2005 Ashes.
Behind the Scenes: A Nation’s Transformation
This win didn’t come out of nowhere. Since 2020, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has invested over ₹2,200 crore into women’s cricket—funding better training facilities, higher match fees, and full-time contracts for 30 players. The result? A professional, fearless squad. “We used to train on dusty grounds with second-hand gear,” said Harmanpreet Kaur, now India’s mentor. “Now, we’ve got physios, psychologists, and data analysts. This win is for every girl who was told cricket was a boy’s game.”
The impact was immediate. Ticket sales for domestic women’s T20 leagues surged by 300% in the week after the final. Apparel sales of India’s jerseys broke records, and for the first time, a women’s cricket match outperformed a men’s IPL fixture in digital engagement on social media.
A Double Celebration: Blind Cricket Triumph
Just 21 days after the World Cup win, India added another historic title. On November 23, 2025, at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo, the India Women’s Blind Cricket Team, led by T.C. Deepika, defeated Nepal by seven wickets to win the Women’s Blind T20 World Cup 2025Colombo. Chasing 115, they reached the target in just 12.1 overs. The team remained undefeated throughout the tournament, which featured six nations including Australia, Pakistan, and the USA. It was the first time India had won both the main and blind women’s World Cups in the same calendar year.
What’s Next?
The ICC has already confirmed that the 2029 Women’s World Cup will be hosted by England, but India’s triumph has reshaped the tournament’s future. Broadcasters are now bidding for exclusive rights to women’s cricket, and several European nations have announced plans to launch domestic T20 leagues for women. The BCCI is expected to announce a new ‘Women’s Premier League’ in 2026, modeled after the IPL, with a projected budget of ₹500 crore.
For the players, life has changed overnight. Shefali Verma received a ₹15 crore endorsement deal from a major sports brand within 48 hours of the final. Smriti Mandhana was invited to address the Indian Parliament. And for the first time, girls in small towns across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are asking their parents for cricket bats—not dolls.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did India’s win change women’s cricket in India?
India’s victory triggered a surge in funding, media coverage, and grassroots participation. The BCCI increased prize money for domestic tournaments by 200%, and school cricket programs now prioritize girls’ teams. Over 2.3 million new registrations were recorded in the three months after the final, according to the National Cricket Academy.
Who were the top performers in the tournament?
Smriti Mandhana led the run charts with 365 runs, followed by Pratika Raval (308) and Laura Wolvaardt (301). Renuka Singh took 19 wickets, the most by any bowler. Alana King’s 7/18 against South Africa was the best bowling figure in World Cup history for women’s cricket.
Why was the final against South Africa so significant?
South Africa had reached their first-ever final, and Laura Wolvaardt was the tournament’s most consistent batter. India’s win ended their 12-match winning streak in World Cup knockouts since 2017. It also marked the first time a host nation won the Women’s World Cup since Australia in 2013.
What role did the BCCI play in this success?
The BCCI invested ₹2,200 crore since 2020 in infrastructure, coaching, and player contracts. They also ensured equal match fees for men and women for international matches starting in 2024—a move that boosted morale and professionalism across the squad.
How does this win compare to India’s previous World Cup performances?
India had reached the final twice before—in 2005 and 2017—but lost both times. In 2005, they were beaten by Australia by 99 runs. In 2017, a controversial run-out in the final cost them the title. This win, by 52 runs on home soil, finally erased decades of near-misses.
What impact did the Blind Cricket World Cup win have?
It brought unprecedented visibility to para-sports in India. The final was broadcast live on Doordarshan and received over 1.8 million views on YouTube. The government announced a ₹50 crore fund for blind cricket infrastructure, and three new state-level academies were approved within a week of the win.