One Year On: How India's Women Finally Became Cricket World Champions

Some sporting nights stay with you. For many Indian families in Cyprus, 2 November 2025 is one of them: an evening glued to screens, and then the moment India's women finally lifted a 50-over World Cup.

As the first anniversary comes round, we look back at how the Women in Blue got there, why the win meant so much, and how families here can keep that spark alive.

A long wait, finally over

India had come close before. Their first final, in 2005, ended in defeat to Australia. In 2017 at Lord's, they were cruising towards victory against England before a late collapse left them nine runs short. A generation of fans grew up with that near-miss, which is why the 2025 title, won at home, felt like something bigger than a trophy.

The road to the final

The turning point came in the semi-final in Navi Mumbai on 30 October. Australia, the defending champions, piled up 338. India got there with an over and a half in hand. No team had ever chased more to win a women's ODI. Jemimah Rodrigues stayed unbeaten on 127, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur added 89 in a stand of 167 that turned the game.

Final night in Navi Mumbai

The final came three days later at the DY Patil Stadium. Batting first against South Africa, India posted 298 for 7. Opener Shafali Verma set the tone with a punchy 87, and Deepti Sharma's 58 kept the total climbing. South Africa's captain Laura Wolvaardt fought back with a century, but the chase ended at 246, and India won by 52 runs.

Deepti Sharma then did the damage with the ball too, taking 5 for 39 in the final. Shafali, who also picked up two wickets, collected the Player of the Match award. Deepti, with 22 wickets and more than 200 runs across the tournament, was Player of the Tournament.

What came next

• The BCCI announced a reward of ₹51 crore for the squad, support staff and selectors, paid from its own funds.
• The ICC prize for the winners was reported at US$4.48 million, more than three times what the 2022 champions received.
• Several state governments also honoured players from their states, including cash awards for Renuka Singh Thakur and Kranti Goud.

Harder to measure, but just as real, was the change in status: Deepti, Shafali, Jemimah and their teammates became household names, and women's cricket in India moved firmly into the mainstream.

What this means for you

• Mark the anniversary. On 2 November, rewatch the final's highlights with friends or your community group. It's an easy, joyful gathering, and a good way to introduce Cypriot friends to Indian cricket.
• Encourage your daughters to play. Ask local clubs about junior and girls' sessions; our guide Howzat, Cyprus! lists where to play and watch.
• Share the story. For children growing up between two cultures, this team is a powerful example of patience, teamwork and coming back after a heartbreak.
• Follow the team. Keep an eye on India's women's fixtures and on the Women's Premier League. Check which streaming services show the matches in Cyprus before the big games.

Read also: 85 Medals and a Historic Hockey Double: India's Asian Games 2026 in Numbers

Sources: Wikipedia (2025 final), Wikipedia (tournament), Al Jazeera, Sky Sports, BCCI (2017 final), News On AIR, Outlook Money