After anxious rain delays that tested every cricket fan’s patience, India’s openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana have given the home crowd exactly what they craved—a flying start in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final against South Africa at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Sports Academy.
Table of Contents
IND-W Vs SA-W: Current Match Status
India Women are cruising at 64/0 after 10.3 overs, with Shafali Verma unbeaten on 29 off 25 balls and Smriti Mandhana on 27 off 35 balls, maintaining a healthy run rate of 6.09. This represents India’s highest powerplay score in the tournament, surpassing their 60/2 against Australia in the semifinal.
| Match Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Final |
| Teams | India vs South Africa |
| Venue | DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai |
| Date | Sunday, November 2, 2025 |
| Toss | South Africa won, opted to field |
| Start Time | 3:30 PM IST (delayed from 2:30 PM) |
| Current Score | India 64/0 (10.3 overs) |
| Attendance | 30,000+ (packed stadium) |
Rain Disrupts Historic Occasion
The much-anticipated final experienced multiple rain delays, with the toss initially scheduled for 2:30 PM IST eventually taking place at 3:00 PM, with play commencing at 3:30 PM. The persistent drizzle tested the patience of over 30,000 fans who turned up hoping to witness history.
With a reserve day available for Monday, November 3, cricket authorities ensured fans that the match would reach a conclusion. The cut-off time for a 20-over match was set for 9:08 PM IST, with a two-hour buffer before overs would be reduced.
Shafali’s Explosive Return to Form
Shafali Verma has been the aggressor in the opening partnership, racing to 21 off 15 balls with four boundaries in the first five overs, while Smriti Mandhana played a more measured knock. For fans following the Women’s World Cup 2025, Shafali’s aggressive intent has set the perfect tone.
Shafali had previously smashed 53 off 46 against South Africa at the 2022 World Cup and hammered a Test double-century in 2024, proving her capability against the Proteas. Her inclusion came after Pratika Rawal’s injury, and she’s making the most of this opportunity on cricket’s biggest stage.
India’s Playing XI and Strategy
India Women (Playing XI): Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur
South Africa Women (Playing XI): Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Annerie Dercksen, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba
Both teams remained unchanged from their dominant semifinal victories, showing confidence in their winning combinations.
Records on the Line
This final isn’t just about the trophy—it’s about rewriting cricket history:
Smriti Mandhana’s Milestone Hunt: Smriti Mandhana has already surpassed Mithali Raj’s record for most runs by an Indian in a single ODI World Cup campaign, accumulating 410 runs. She now needs just 52 more to become the 10th woman and second Indian to reach 1,000 runs in Women’s ODI World Cups.
Laura Wolvaardt’s Chase: South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt, who has scored 470 runs this tournament, needs just 40 more to become the top scorer in a single World Cup edition, potentially breaking Alyssa Healy’s record of 509 runs set during the 2022 edition.
For comprehensive coverage of India’s women’s cricket achievements, this final represents the culmination of years of preparation and near-misses.
First-Ever New Champion Since 2000
This marks the first time in Women’s World Cup history that neither Australia nor England are present in the final. Both India and South Africa are chasing their maiden ICC World Cup title, making this a truly historic occasion.
India are playing their third ODI World Cup final after 2005 and 2017, with no team having played three finals without lifting the trophy. The pressure is immense, but the home support could prove decisive.
Head-to-Head: Experience vs Momentum
In ODI encounters, India holds a 20-13 advantage over South Africa. However, in World Cup meetings, the record stands at 3-3, with South Africa winning the last three encounters. Since the IWC 2022-25 cycle began, India has dominated with a 5-1 record.
The recent form favors India, but South Africa’s ability to perform on the big stage—having reached back-to-back T20 World Cup finals in 2023 and 2024—cannot be underestimated.
The Semifinal Magic That Brought Them Here
India’s path to the final was nothing short of miraculous. They chased down Australia’s massive 338 in the semifinal, with Jemimah Rodrigues scoring an unbeaten 127 as India won by 5 wickets, ending Australia’s 15-match ODI World Cup winning streak.
South Africa, meanwhile, demolished England in their semifinal with captain Laura Wolvaardt’s breathtaking 169 and Marizanne Kapp’s five-wicket haul showcasing their championship credentials.
What This Final Means Beyond Cricket
Eight years and three months since South Africa had their dreams shattered in Bristol and India couldn’t hold their nerve at Lord’s in 2017, both teams return to the final with renewed hope. Those heartbreaks forced stakeholders to change the game’s direction, leading to a proper FTP, the Women’s Premier League, and equal match fees for men and women in Indian cricket.
A victory today would inspire millions of young girls across both nations and establish players like Nonkululeko Mlaba and Kranti Gaud—who overcame enormous obstacles—as household names.
The Pitch and Conditions
The pitch at DY Patil Stadium looks good for batting, with short boundaries and a quick outfield promising another high-scoring encounter. This is the same venue where India scripted their record chase against Australia in the semifinals, showing how batting-friendly the surface can be.
Heavy dew is expected to settle during the second innings under floodlights, which could be the most influential environmental factor, making the ball difficult for bowlers to grip.
According to ESPN Cricinfo’s live coverage, the Indian tri-color is out in all sizes, music has started blaring, and boundaries are flowing on what promises to be another batting paradise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time did the India vs South Africa Women’s World Cup final start?
The match started at 3:30 PM IST on November 2, 2025, one hour later than the originally scheduled 2:30 PM start time. The toss took place at 3:00 PM IST after rain delays forced multiple postponements throughout the afternoon. South Africa won the toss and elected to field first. With a two-hour buffer before overs would be reduced and a reserve day available for Monday, November 3, organizers worked to ensure the historic final would reach a conclusion despite the weather challenges.
Can India become the first team to win the Women’s World Cup after losing three finals?
Yes, India is attempting to become the first team to win the Women’s World Cup after appearing in three finals. They previously reached the final in 2005 (losing to Australia by 98 runs) and 2017 (losing to England by nine runs). No team in Women’s World Cup history has played three finals without lifting the trophy, making India’s quest particularly significant. A victory today would not only end their ICC trophy drought but also create history as the first team to overcome multiple final heartbreaks and finally claim cricket’s biggest prize.
