Team India Women emotional after victory against South Africa in final (Screengrabs) Indian women’s cricket has been waiting for this moment for years. On a night to remember at the DY Patil Stadium, India’s Harmanpreet Kaur lifted her maiden Women’s World Cup trophy as she defeated South Africa by 52 runs to end a long wait. As Deepti Sharma completed her five-wicket haul and Nadine de Klerk’s dismissal sealed the result, Harmanpreet took the last catch and continued in her stride as the crowd erupted in celebration. The stands came alive with cheers and tricolors flying around the stadium.
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Shafali Verma, who scored 87 off 78 balls and took two crucial wickets, played a crucial role in India’s victory. The result also ended India’s streak of hearts in the finals in 2005 and 2017. Emotions were visible on the pitch as several players were seen in tears. Richa Ghosh hugged her captain while Smriti Mandhana, Amanjot Kaur and Renuka Thakur were in tears. Watch the emotional moments of the post-match celebrationsDraped in the national flag, Harmanpreet and Mandhana shared a moment of celebration in the middle. In the stands, Rohit Sharma was seen applauding the team’s effort, while in the opposite pavilion, South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt, who scored a beautiful century, looked on in disappointment after her team’s strong campaign ended in defeat.
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Earlier, India’s innings of 298/7 was anchored by Shafali’s fluent knock and Deepti Sharma’s composed 58, while Richa Ghosh added valuable cameos in the closing overs. In response, South Africa’s chase started well but faltered under pressure, with India’s spinners tightening up as the innings progressed. The victory gave India its first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup title, a moment that capped years of steady progress and near misses. As the players stood together at the handover ceremony, the meaning of the achievement could not have been more iconic.
