Headline:
India’s bold captaincy decision turns the tide; South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt praises her team’s growth despite the final loss.
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🏆 Title:
Harmanpreet Kaur’s Gamble on Shafali Verma Pays Off as India Clinch Maiden ICC Women’s World Cup Title
Headline:
India’s bold captaincy decision turns the tide; South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt praises her team’s growth despite the final loss.
Article:
In a historic moment for Indian cricket, Team India lifted their first-ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final played at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.
The spotlight, however, wasn’t only on the victory — it was on a bold decision taken by captain Harmanpreet Kaur that completely changed the game.
When South Africa appeared steady at 113/2, Harmanpreet took a surprising gamble — she handed the ball to part-time bowler Shafali Verma, a move based purely on instinct rather than statistics. The decision turned out to be a masterstroke.
Shafali struck immediately, dismissing Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp, two of South Africa’s key batters. Those two wickets broke South Africa’s momentum and shifted the match firmly in India’s favor.
“I just felt she (Shafali) was ready, so I trusted my gut and gave her the ball. That over changed the game,” Kaur said in the post-match presentation.
Shafali Verma, who also scored a brilliant 87 runs, was named the Player of the Match for her all-round heroics.
South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt graciously accepted the defeat, saying her team will take the experience positively.
“It’s unfortunate to be on the losing side today, but I’m sure we’ll definitely grow from this as a group,” Wolvaardt said.
Despite the heartbreak, she praised her team’s fighting spirit and consistency throughout the tournament.
This victory marks a new chapter in Indian women’s cricket — a symbol of courage, leadership, and teamwork. Harmanpreet’s fearless decision-making and Shafali’s dynamic performance will be remembered as defining moments of the 2025 World Cup.
