India captured its maiden Women’s Cricket World Cup title on Saturday with a thrilling 52-run victory over South Africa at DY Patil Stadium, overcoming rain delays and a formidable opponent to deliver a landmark moment for the sport.

The hosts posted 298-7 in their innings, powered by Shafali Verma’s explosive 87 and Deepti Sharma’s composed 58, before Sharma returned to dismantle South Africa’s chase with a five-wicket haul, bowling them out for 246.

The final, played before a roaring crowd of 45,000, capped India’s dramatic turnaround after three group-stage losses nearly derailed their campaign. A semifinal rout of Australia reignited their momentum, setting the stage for a dominant performance in the final.

Verma, a late call-up, anchored the innings with aggressive strokeplay, while Sharma’s late surge added crucial runs. South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt responded with a graceful 101, but her dismissal in the 42nd over triggered a collapse that sealed India’s win.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who had previously fallen short in the 2017 and 2020 finals, called the victory “the start” of a new era. “We wanted to break this barrier, and now it’s a habit,” she said. Wolvaardt, whose century echoed her semifinal heroics, acknowledged India’s superiority: “We were outplayed – India played fantastically well.”

The win marks South Africa’s third consecutive final defeat, though their campaign, including a dramatic semifinal win over New Zealand, signals continued progress.

For India, the triumph reflects the growing impact of the Women’s Premier League and a rising generation of talent. As the team looks ahead to future tournaments, the victory stands as a defining moment in the nation’s cricketing history.