India’s historic victory at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 has not only thrilled millions of fans at home but also earned admiration from across the world. Among those applauding the Women in Blue was the New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon who praised the team’s remarkable performance and called their World Cup win “outstanding” and “truly world-class”.
After watching the highlights of the final between India and South Africa, Christopher Luxon said that he was deeply impressed by the Indian team’s composure and skill. He mentioned that while he would have loved to see New Zealand lift the trophy, he was happy that another deserving team had triumphed, especially one that managed to beat Australia. The Prime Minister light-heartedly noted that as long as someone defeats Australia, New Zealanders are happy, reflecting the friendly sporting rivalry that has long existed between the two neighbours.
India’s victory marked a historic moment for women’s cricket. Playing in their third World Cup final, India became only the fourth nation to win the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, joining the ranks of Australia, England and New Zealand. The final, held at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, saw Harmanpreet Kaur’s team deliver a stunning all-round performance to defeat South Africa by 52 runs.
Batting first, India posted a strong total of 298 for 7, thanks to Shafali Verma’s brilliant 87. Her aggressive innings set the tone for India’s batting display. South Africa started their chase with determination and at one point appeared well on track to reach the target. However, the game turned dramatically when Deepti Sharma broke through their middle order. Her crucial spell of 5 wickets for just 39 runs dismantled South Africa’s hopes and sealed India’s victory.
Shafali Verma’s all-round brilliance, scoring 87 runs and taking two vital wickets, earned her the Player of the Match award, while Deepti Sharma’s consistent excellence throughout the tournament saw her crowned Player of the Tournament.
As the celebrations continue, Christopher Luxon’s admiration added an international touch to India’s moment of glory. His words captured the global appreciation for a team that played with passion, skill and unity. India’s women not only lifted the World Cup but also elevated the spirit of the game, showing once again that cricket’s true power lies in inspiration and this time, it came dressed in blue.
