“Final World Cup Match: INDIA vs. SOUTH AFRICA”
The Indian women’s cricket team have made history by entering the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Final on Thursday, following a thunderous semi-final victory over Australia at the Dr DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. This win at the home ground was not any ordinary game; it was a statement not said in words, but shown through the game, courage, composure and class, which has carried team India into the finals. In the finals, India will be facing South Africa on 2nd November 2025, at the same ground where India defeated the mighty Australian team.
Semi-Final Showdown: India vs Australia
Australia has been the defending champions, who won the toss and chose to bat first and put on an amazing performance and set up a massive total of 338 runs all out in 49.5 overs. Australia’s top performers were Phoebe Litchfield with an impressive score of 119 runs of 93 balls, while Ellyse Perry scored 77 runs, and Ashleigh Gardner scored 63 runs and built an amazing partnership to push the total beyond 330.
For a brief moment, it looked like the game might have slipped away from India’s hand, but what we saw next was something nobody expected from the Indian Women’s Cricket Team and is also one of the finest batting displays in women’s cricket history.
Chasing the massive total of 339 runs, India began playing cautiously, but they caught rhythm through Smriti Mandhana (46) and then a game-changing partnership between Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues, who combined to achieve the score of 167 runs. Jemimah’s class, calm and clean stikes guided India home in 48.3 overs, while also finishing at 341 runs at the loss of 5 wickets and at 48.3 overs. This helped set a new record for the highest successful run chase in women’s ODIs.
India’s Top Run-Scorers in the Semi-Final
| Player | Runs Scored | Balls Faced | Strike Rate | 4s/6s | Status |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | 127* | 134 | 94.77 | 12/1 | Not Out |
| Harmanpreet Kaur (C) | 89 | 88 | 101.13 | 9/2 | Caught |
| Smriti Mandhana | 46 | 39 | 117.94 | 7/0 | Caught |
| Richa Ghosh (WK) | 28 | 18 | 155.55 | 3/1 | Caught |
| Shafali Verma | 20 | 17 | 117.64 | 3/0 | Bowled |
| Deepti Sharma | 14* | 12 | 116.67 | 1/0 | Not Out |
Team Total: 341/5 (48.3 overs)
Target: 339
Result: India won by 5 wickets with 9 balls remaining
Player of the Match: Jemimah Rodrigues
Why This Victory Matters
- Historic chase: This win matters because India’s 341/5 is now the highest successful run chase in women’s ODI history.
- Breaking the Aussie stronghold: With the Australian team having a strong dominance in all global formats and tournaments, the Indian team finally halted their dominance.
- Home soil advantage: With the Indian team winning the semi-final at the home ground, the Indian crowd erupted in cheers and celebration while turning the stadium into a fortress of belief.
- Depth and maturity: Every Indian player has a part and role contributed to the victory against the Australian team, showcasing India’s bench strength and strategic planning.
This win over the Australian team was not just a strategic victory but a psychological breakthrough, proving that India can hold their nerve in big-match situations.
The Road Ahead: India vs South Africa Final
With the semi-final win and match behind them, India is now preparing to face the South Africa Women’s cricket team, who have qualified for the finals after defeating the England team in the second semi-final. This will be South Africa’s first-ever Women’s World Cup Final appearance, and they will also be fully prepared to put on a tough fight against their hosts.
Venue: Dr DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
Date: Sunday, 2 November 2025
Time: 1:30 PM IST
There will be familiar conditions and crowd support for Team India; however, South Africa’s balanced team, having Marizanne Kapp, Laura Wolvaar, DT and Shabnim Ismaill, will test India’s composure and consistency.
Final Word
This World Cup journey is more than just a game or cricket; it is about the belief, resilience and rewriting of history. The Indian Women’s team have already made the nation proud by their semi-final performance against the Australia team, but as they step onto the same turf again, this time for the title, one thing is sure that India is no longer the challenger; they are a team to beat.
Whether they lift the trophy and get the title home or not, this cricket campaign has already inspired millions. The night at DY Patil was not just a victory; it was a message from the team that the Indian Women’s Cricket Team has truly arrived.
