The Rollercoaster to Glory: Resilience Defined
India’s
journey to the final was less a march and more a dramatic rollercoaster,
perfectly embodying the high-stakes nature of the tournament. The campaign
began with confidence, securing wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, largely
driven by the consistent batting of Smriti Mandhana and the all-round
brilliance of Deepti Sharma.
However,
the middle phase brought intense pressure. Three successive defeats—to South
Africa, serial winners Australia, and England—threatened to derail their hopes
entirely. These losses exposed vulnerabilities, particularly in closing out
high-pressure chases and maintaining bowling discipline in the death overs. The
team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, faced brutal criticism but refused to break.
The
turning point came in two crucial final league matches. First, a dominant win
against New Zealand, where openers Mandhana (102) and Pratika Rawal (104)
posted a historic partnership. This momentum carried into the semi-final
against the seemingly invincible Australia. Chasing an improbable 339, Jemimah
Rodrigues played the innings of her life, compiling an unbeaten 127 in a
historic chase—the highest ever in a World Cup knockout—to secure a thrilling
five-wicket victory and book their third-ever final appearance.
The
Final Masterclass: Deepti and Shafali Deliver
Facing
South Africa, a team also seeking its maiden title, India arrived at the final
with newfound belief. After being asked to bat in a match delayed by rain,
India’s innings was anchored by a blistering 104-run opening stand between
Mandhana (45) and the Player of the Match, Shafali Verma. Verma, restored to
the squad for the semi-final, repaid the faith with a robust, counter-attacking
87 off just 78 balls, setting a formidable pace.
Despite
a brief middle-order wobble that saw skipper Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues depart
cheaply, India posted a commanding 298/7, powered by the finishing heroics of
Deepti Sharma (58 runs) and Richa Ghosh (34 off 24 balls). This total, the
second-highest in a Women’s World Cup final, was a statement of intent.
In
the chase, South African captain Laura Wolvaardt was magnificent, crafting a
superb, lone-wolf century (101). But the crucial phase was the injection of a
surprise bowling option: Shafali Verma. In a tactical masterstroke from Captain
Kaur, Verma delivered two game-changing wickets in two overs, removing Sune
Luus and Marizanne Kapp to trigger a collapse.
The
momentum was seized fully by Player of the Tournament, Deepti Sharma. The
all-rounder was clinical, ripping through the lower-middle order to finish with
a match-defining spell of 5/39. Her double strike—which included the key wicket
of Wolvaardt caught by Amanjot Kaur- crushed South Africa’s resistance. When
Harmanpreet Kaur took a sensational diving catch off Deepti’s bowling to seal
the 52-run victory, the long wait ended, sparking an eruption of joy in the sea
of blue at the stadium.
A Watershed Moment for Indian Cricket
This
victory transcends cricket. Deepti Sharma's all-round consistency (finishing as
the leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets and scoring over 200 runs—the first
player in ODI World Cup history to achieve this double) and the team’s
collective grit have provided a definitive answer to years of heartbreak in the
2005 and 2017 finals.
The
triumphant roar in Navi Mumbai confirms this side’s legacy as pioneers. It is a
watershed moment for the women’s game in India, promising to inspire a new
generation of girls, cementing cricket’s undisputed status not just as a
national passion, but as a platform for female excellence on the global stage.
- Abhijit
03/11/2025
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