The stage is set at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium where India and South Africa will clash in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 final, a contest that will crown a first-time world champion in women’s cricket.
As the clock ticks closer to the 2 pm toss, excitement across India, from Kanpur to Kochi, has hit fever pitch. Fans, draped in blue, have filled the streets, lighting diyas and chanting for Harmanpreet Kaur’s brigade to bring the trophy home.
“This team has been fearless all tournament. We beat Australia chasing 339, nothing feels impossible now,” a local fan from Kanpur told ANI, echoing the sentiment of millions.
Fans lead the chorus: ‘We believe in Harman!’
“I am hopeful India will win the match. Harmanpreet and Jemimah are in great form,” one fan told ANI. “We played brilliantly in the semi-final against Australia. This is our time.”
Another fan added with a smile, “Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur are unstoppable right now. We’re praying India lifts the World Cup today.”
A final like no other: no Australia, no England, just history waiting to be written
For the first time in Women’s World Cup history, Australia and England are absent from the final. That means whichever side wins today, India or South Africa, will become a first-time world champion.
India enter their third World Cup final (after 2005 and 2017), while South Africa are playing their first-ever. Both teams have battled through grit, heartbreak, and historic performances to earn this spot.
India’s road to the final: record chase and rising stars
India’s path to the title clash was nothing short of cinematic. In the semi-final, Jemimah Rodrigues delivered a masterclass with an unbeaten 127, guiding India to a record chase of 339 runs against Australia.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur chipped in with a crucial 89, while Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma have remained consistent throughout the tournament.
Jemimah Rodrigues: 268 runs in six innings (Avg 67)
Smriti Mandhana: among top run-scorers
Deepti Sharma: joint highest wicket-taker (17 wickets)
Their form has injected belief into fans that this might finally be India’s year.
South Africa’s dream run: powered by Wolvaardt and Kapp
South Africa’s story is equally compelling. Laura Wolvaardt, the tournament’s leading scorer with 470 runs in eight innings, has been the backbone of their batting.
In their semi-final against England, Wolvaardt’s 169 and Marizanne Kapp’s 5/20 sealed a stunning 125-run win, sending the Proteas into their first-ever World Cup final.
With Kapp, Nonkululeko Mlaba, and Nadine de Klerk in lethal form, South Africa will be no pushovers.
Head-to-head and home edge: India hold key advantage
India and South Africa have faced off 34 times in women’s ODIs, with India leading 20–13 (1 no result). However, South Africa beat India in the league stage of this World Cup, chasing down 252 with seven balls to spare.
But India hold a crucial advantage, they are unbeaten at DY Patil Stadium, winning all three matches here during this tournament. South Africa, in contrast, will be playing at the venue for the first time.
That familiarity, coupled with home crowd energy, could tilt the momentum India’s way.
A nation on its feet
From college campuses to corporate offices, screens are being set up for the grand finale. Social media is flooded with hashtags like #BleedBlue, #HarmanpreetKaur, and #WWCFinal2025.
For millions of Indians, this isn’t just about cricket, it’s about rewriting the story that slipped away in 2017.
In Harmanpreet’s words: “We’ve waited a long time for this moment. We’re not here to participate; we’re here to make history.”
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