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Harmanpreet Kaur’s team beat South Africa in Navi Mumbai to win the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s catch that guided India to their maiden World Cup win
The year 2025 saw a new chapter in the history of Indian women’s cricket when Harmanpreet Kaur & Co. defeated South Africa in Navi Mumbai. India delivered a clinical performance to win the contest by 52 runs. Powered by Shafali Verma’s aggressive 87 and Deepti Sharma’s record-breaking tournament wicket haul, the women in blue remained composed under pressure. This victory ended decades of waiting, following a dramatic semi-final chase against Australia.
Captain Harmanpreet described it as a dream-come-true moment for the entire unit. Speaking at the BCCI Naman Awards on Sunday, the Indian skipper said lifting the trophy was a surreal feeling.
“It meant a lot to us. Since women’s cricket began, we have dreamed of lifting the ICC trophy. All the women cricketers have been dreaming about it. But our team was able to do it and is proud of it. I hope it continues and we keep on winning ICC titles. It’s a great feeling, and I’m really happy that as a team we were able to do that,” Harmanpreet Kaur said at the event.
In the final match at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Kaur caught South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk off the bowling of Deepti Sharma, securing a 52-run victory for India. The Indian skipper said she had taken countless catches in her career, but that particular grab will remain closer to her heart forever.
“Yes, 100 per cent. We were all praying to get that final wicket. I think not just me, but everyone in the team was waiting for that opportunity. I feel blessed that the catch came to me. I’m so grateful. I have taken so many catches in my career, but that particular one will always be close to my heart,” she said.
In a remarkable achievement, Smriti Mandhana has been honoured as the Best International Women Cricketer at the BCCI Naman Awards 2026, following her stellar performances in the 2024–2025 season.
Mandhana concluded 2025 with an impressive tally of 1,703 international runs, including 1,362 in ODIs – the highest ever by a woman in a single calendar year. This feat also made her the first batter in women’s ODI history to surpass 1,000 runs in a calendar year.
As India’s vice-captain, Mandhana played a crucial role in securing India’s first Women’s World Cup title, amassing 434 runs across nine matches, making her India’s top scorer and the tournament’s second-highest run-getter.
Before the World Cup, Mandhana achieved a remarkable milestone by scoring a century in just 50 balls against Australia in New Delhi, setting a new record for the fastest ODI hundred by an Indian batter, and surpassing Virat Kohli’s previous record of a 52-ball century.
March 16, 2026, 00:48 IST
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