Friends, generally I do not write on sports on weekdays, but after India won the Women’s Cricket World Cup (WCWC) late on the night of 2nd November, I could not resist writing about this World Cup victory.
It was the maiden World Cup victory for the Indian women that many believe could bring seismic changes in Indian Women’s cricket, like when the Indian men’s team won the 1983 ODI World Cup.
After Shafali Varma top-scored with 87 off 78 balls as India posted 298-7 after losing the toss and being made to bat at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, they managed to dismiss South Africa for 246 despite a brilliant display with bat from their captain Laura Wolvaadrt (101).
Every other Women’s World Cup has either featured England or Australia, or both, so I think it is great for the game that we have a new champion. The sleeping giant that is Indian women’s cricket is well truly awake and they could be an stoppable force.
How did India pull of their victory?
There are many elements that go into a victory, India have bee building towards this moment with the form of the players, crowd and growth of WPL (Women’s Premier League), all playing their part.
It was going in that direction for long time, and already with the WPL and the way this cricket team have played over the last couple of years. They just needed just one day to put that seal of supremacy, and 2nd November happened to be that day. The Indian team had little hiccup in the middle of the tournament when they lost three matches continuously against Australia, England and South Africa in league stage. In the end after their victory over Australia in the Semi-finals, they came back strongly and were hot favourite to win the cup. In the end the Indian team just had too many players in form compared to South Africa..
If you look through the Indian line-up, there were lot of players in form compared to South Africa, and the semi-final and final matches all the players performed brilliantly, and it was a great team effort. Unfortunately for South Africa, especially with the bat, they relied heavily on one or two, and that’s why they had to play an extra batter. But in the end India were just too good.
Living the dream: From injury substitute to Star
One of the standout stories from the final was of Shafali Varma who came in part way through this tournament as an injury substitution for Pratika Rawal after initial being left out.. In the final, not only did she put in a brilliant 87 with the bat, the part-time bowler claimed two wickets to complete her redemption arc.
When she came back into the team for the semi-final, everyone thought, it was a bit of gamble to actually pick her, and then in a final, but she grabbed that chance and played brilliantly. Everyone knew about her batting power, and it was a bit of genius of think-tank of the team to give her bowling in the final, and in the bowling also she was outstanding and took two crucial wickets.
India did impress under pressure
It was the particulars of India’s team that proved the difference in the final, Deepti Sharma showing her class once again with a 58 with the bat and stunning 5-39 with the ball. Indian team learned from the pressures of losing three-in-a-row in the group stages and handled the pressure to come out on top despite the noise around them.
They pretty much have every base covered. They have good quality seam, they have got good quality spin, they are backed up, and the way Jemima Rodrigues sets the tone in the field diving around.
Everyone thought about the pressure coming here for South Africa, but actually as a home side, as various Indian sides have found out, you are under pressure. You lose this and you go very quickly from hero to zero in this part of the world, and you will get vilified tomorrow. When India lost three games in the middle, a few questions were being asked about Harmanpreet’s captaincy, so to see her o off and take that last brilliant catch and run off with a team behind her was a scene to watch.
In the end, a World Cup win in a country which is cricket obsessed, which as a population of 140+ Crores and yet which has historically been slow to embrace the women’s game, this win could be epoch defining. But this is no time for anyone to rest on their laurels. India are the first non-western nation to win the World Cup, only England (four times), Australia (seven times) and New Zealand (one time) have previously lifted the trophy. Nobody aside from Australia and England have managed it in 25 years.
Even now, there is a sense that had India not beaten South African and lifted the World Cup, the BCCI could have continued to make excuses about their far from equal support for the women’s game. Change is coming, the BCCI has announced a reward of Rs 51 Cr for Harmanpreet Kaur and her team, to go alongside the share from $4.5 million prize money which they will receive form ICC as tournament winners. But if you want a permanent shift, then the BCCI’s money should not just be used to make a handful player richer. It needs to trickle down, it is about time that girls from all over India get chance to be part of Indian women’s cricket team.
Waiting for your feedback on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
4th November 2025