It was a night of long-awaited glory as the Indian women’s cricket team led by Harmanpreet Kaur finally broke through and lifted their first ever World Cup title. Battling past wrestling with their past, they defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
The road to this moment had not been easy. The Indian team had previously finished runners-up in 2005 and 2017, each time falling just short of their dream.
They began the 2025 tournament shakily, losing three games in a row, including one to South Africa in the group stage. Yet they summoned their belief and resilience to surge back when it mattered the most.
In the final, India batted first and posted 298 for 7. The innings was driven by a blistering knock from opener Shafali Verma who scored 87, then chipped in with two crucial wickets. Her blend of aggression and composure saw her earn the Player of the Match award.
Complementing her was all-rounder Deepti Sharma, who contributed 58 off 58 balls and then ripped through the South African lineup with a five-wicket haul (5-39) to stamp her class on the contest.
South Africa showed plenty of fight, led by their captain Laura Wolvaardt, who blazed her way to a century (101) in yet one more outstanding performance. Her knock highlighted the challenge India faced. But despite her valiant effort, the Proteas were bowled out for 246 in the 46th over, handing India the long-sought victory.
After this historic win of Indian women’s cricket team, here is how the top political leaders, celebs, sportspersons and Indian cricket fraternity reacted:
PM Narendra Modi tweeted, “A spectacular win by the Indian team in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Finals. Their performance in the final was marked by great skill and confidence. The team showed exceptional teamwork and tenacity throughout the tournament. Congratulations to our players. This historic win will motivate future champions to take up sports.”
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Home Minister Amit Shah wrote, “Hats off to the world champion Team India. It is a crowning moment for the nation, as our team lifts the #ICCWomensWorldCup2025, elevating India’s pride to the skies. Your stellar cricketing skills paved the path of inspiration for millions of girls. Congratulations to the entire team.”
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The legendary former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar tweeted, “1983 inspired an entire generation to dream big and chase those dreams. Today, our Women’s Cricket Team has done something truly special. They have inspired countless young girls across the country to pick up a bat and ball, take the field and believe that they too can lift that trophy one day. This is a defining moment in the journey of Indian women’s cricket. Well done, Team India. You’ve made the whole nation proud.”
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Virat Kohli posted on his Instagram, “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. Also congratulations to the whole squad and the management for the work behind the scenes. Well done india. Enjoy the moment to the fullest. This will inspire generations of girls to take up the sport in our country. Jai hind”
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Former Indian woman cricketer Mithali Raj tweeted, “Champions of the World, I’ve seen this dream for over two decades, to watch the Indian women lift that World Cup trophy. Tonight, that dream finally came true. From the heartbreak of 2005 to the fight of 2017, every tear, every sacrifice, every young girl who picked up a bat believing we belong here, it all led to this moment. To the new champions of world cricket, you didn’t just win a trophy, you won every heart that ever beat for Indian women’s cricket. Jai Hind”
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Former Indian woman cricketer Anjum Chopra posted, “WHAT A WIN!!!!!!!!! INCREDIBLY PROUD of this team — the belief.. the heart..the fight! Overwhelming emotions.. Joy out of bounds!!! To the wonderful #womeninblue .. you’ve just made history!”
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Former Indian cricketer and former head coach Anil Kumble tweeted, “A remarkable campaign from start to finish – disciplined, fearless and united. This win is a reflection of the team’s consistency and composure under pressure. Full credit to South Africa as well, fought with heart and made the final a true contest of champions”
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The tweet of Virender Sehwag read, “Champions! Har chauke har wicket, apne Jajbe se poore desh ka dil jeet liya! Proud of our World Champion girls. What a victory. @ImHarmanpreet Kaur aur unki team ne poori generation ko sapna de diya jeetne ka, ladne ka, chamakne ka!”
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Yuvraj Singh wrote, “A new era of Indian cricket begins, all thanks to the grit, determination and skill of our women in blue A team built on unbreakable spirit came together to create a moment the world will never forget. They put their bodies on the line for this dream and made sure they saw it through to the end. A brilliant performance by @TheShafaliVerma, who set the tone with the bat and struck crucial blows with the ball @Deepti_Sharma06 delivered a complete all-round performance, steady with the bat and turning the match with 5 massive wickets. @mandhana_smriti capped off an outstanding tournament, leading India’s charge with consistency, elegance and grit. And @13richaghosh batted with solid determination, holding the innings together when it mattered most. Congratulations to Captain @ImHarmanpreet for leading with belief and composure, and to Coach #AmolMazumdar for shaping a side that plays fearless, united and full of heart.
World Champions and this is only the beginning. The sky isn’t the limit anymore.”
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Wasim Jaffer shared, “SA: We’re not Australia. What are you taking revenge for in every final?India: For making Gandhiji get off the train.”
https://x.com/WasimJaffer14/status/1985053624637301097
Neeraj Chopra tweeted, “World Champions! Congratulations to the Indian women’s cricket team as they win their first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup title. What a performance!”
https://x.com/Neeraj_chopra1/status/1985052742256390405
Riteish Deshmukh’s tweet read, “हमारी चोरियाँ, छोरों से क़ौम है क्या ? History bows. Daughters rise. This is India’s pride, forever. This moment will be engraved in our country’s consciousness forever. This will inspire generations of young women to play for India !! Great victory by Team India …. ImHarmanpreet you have lead this team for our first World Cup win!!! Congratulations and a big thank you.. @TheShafaliVerma you were just incredible today.”
https://x.com/Riteishd/status/1985057058291646782
Beyond the stats and the trophy, this win carries much deeper meaning. For Indian women’s cricket, it is a watershed moment, something akin to what the men’s side achieved back in 1983. The team’s joy, the emotions of players like Smriti Mandhana who noted how “every World Cup we go in, there have been so many heartbreaks,” are testament to the struggle, persistence and maturation of the side.
In the end, this wasn’t just a match won, it was a milestone reached. India’s women stood tall, erasing past disappointment and inspiring a new generation of girls dreaming of cricketing glory.
