By Trisha Ghosal in Mumbai
It all comes down to this night. Months of planning, weeks of heartbreak, moments that will live forever and now, just 100 overs stand between immortality and regret. The ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 final is here. The DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai is packed to the rafters, an ocean of blue waiting to roar as India step out for their third World Cup final.
For Harmanpreet Kaur and her side, this campaign has been a storm. They began with conviction; back-to-back wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, only to see their campaign stutter with three consecutive losses to South Africa, Australia and England. When the tide seemed to be slipping away, India returned to Navi Mumbai, and the familiar hum of the DY Patil crowd sparked something. The batting clicked against New Zealand. The final group game against Bangladesh was washed out, but by then, India had clawed their way back into contention.
Then came the semi-final, one that will be etched in Indian cricketing folklore. Fielding errors, questionable captaincy decisions, and yet, from the chaos, emerged a knock of a lifetime. Jemimah Rodrigues’ unbeaten century, Harmanpreet Kaur’s valiant 89, and the grit of Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh and Amanjot Kaur scripted a chase of 339. India’s greatest-ever in World Cups and took them to the final.
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South Africa’s story has been a saga of resilience. Bowled out for 69 in their opening clash against England, they looked broken. But led by Laura Wolvaardt’s calm and Marizanne Kapp’s fire, they turned despair into dominance, five consecutive wins, each a testament to belief. From Nadine de Klerk’s last-over heroics to Wolvaardt’s unforgettable 169 in the semi-final against England, this has been a campaign of redemption.
And so, the stage is set. Two sides scarred, tested, and reborn. A sold-out DY Patil will echo with dreams tonight as 22 players step into the biggest match of their lives. One will script history, the other will walk away shattered — but together, they’ve already changed the game.
Because whoever lifts that trophy tonight, women’s cricket wins.
