Historic Triumph: India Crowned Women’s World Cup Champions After 25-Year Wait
History was made at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai as the Indian women’s cricket team clinched their first-ever World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling final on Sunday night. With this victory, India ended a 25-year wait, finally lifting the trophy after heartbreaking losses in the 2005 and 2017 finals. This win also marks India’s fifth ICC World Cup title overall, adding to the men’s team’s four historic triumphs.
Batting first, India put up an impressive total of 298 runs, powered by Shafali Verma’s brilliant 87 and Smriti Mandhana’s fluent 45. All-rounder Diltha Sharma once again rose to the occasion, scoring a responsible half-century and later wreaking havoc with the ball. Her five-wicket haul dismantled South Africa’s batting lineup, restricting them to 246 in 45.3 overs, and sealing India’s place in cricketing history.
Diltha Sharma was named the Player of the Tournament for her consistent all-round brilliance, while Shafali Verma earned the Player of the Match award for her game-changing performance with both bat and ball. Despite a spirited effort, South Africa’s dream run to their first-ever World Cup final ended in disappointment. For India, however, it was a night of jubilation — a long-awaited victory that crowned decades of determination, resilience, and the rise of women’s cricket in the country.
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