It’s India’s time! Under the leadership of Rohit-Kohli, the Indian men’s team won the 2024 T20 World Cup for 13 years. The following year, they won the Champions Trophy again. This time, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team created history by winning the Women’s ODI World Cup for the first time. India defeated South Africa by 52 runs with the brilliant all-round performance of Shafali-Deepti.

India and South Africa had a chance to make history in the Women’s ODI World Cup for the first time today (Sunday). Neither team had tasted the title before. Although India finished runners-up twice under the leadership of Mithali Raj, this is the first time the Proteas have reached the ODI final. Although they have played the T20 World Cup final twice before, Wolverton-de Klerks have not won. Today, Lara scored a century in the final but could not avoid defeat. Losing in three finals reminded them of the Chokers’ reputation.

The World Cup final in Navi Mumbai was delayed by a few hours due to rain. After that, India, batting first, scored a huge capital of 298 runs for 7 wickets in the stipulated overs. This is the second highest team score in the final of the Women’s ODI World Cup. The Proteas have never won by more than 275 runs in ODIs before. As a result, they had to create history today. But the failure of the middle order and the tail-enders led to them being bundled out for 246 runs. After the semi-final, Laura Woolvert’s century (101) in the final also went to waste.

Shafali Verma came as if by magic on the way to making history for India. At first, she did not make it to the World Cup team, but Pratika Rawal’s injury opened the door for her in the semi-finals. In the final, India scored the highest innings of 87 runs with her bat. Then Shafali’s breakthrough with the ball also came in the whirlwind. However, before that, she had taken 1 wicket with the ball only 5 times in her 31-match ODI career. Today, she took 2 wickets in a high-voltage match like the final.

Deepti Sharma was one of the heroes of India’s final victory. She became the first cricketer to score at least 200 runs and 15 wickets in the Women’s World Cup. The right-arm spinner took 5 wickets on the way to destroying the Proteas’ strong batting lineup. Earlier, Deepti scored 58 runs with the bat. Which is the second highest individual score in an Indian innings. Apart from this, India got a big capital of 298 runs with the cameo of Smriti Mandhana 45 and Richa Ghosh 34 runs. Ayabonga Khaka took 3 wickets for Africa.

Woolvert’s team got off to a good start in the chase. Unfortunately, their opening partnership of 51 was broken when Tazmin Britts was run out. After that, except for Sune Loos’ 25 and Aneri Dirksen’s 35, no one else could keep Woolvert company. The Protea captain was the lone savior of his teammates’ comings and goings. With Woolvert’s departure as the seventh batsman on 220 runs, India’s victory was almost assured. However, they were worried about Nadine de Klerk. Because this devastating batter had snatched India’s victory in the league stage. She could not do it again today. She was out for 18 runs.

Woolvert scored 101 runs off 98 balls with 11 fours and 1 six. She became only the second batsman to score a century in the semi-finals and final of the men’s and women’s ODI World Cups combined. Before that, only Australian captain Alyssa Healy had achieved the magic figure in the semi-finals and final of the 2022 edition. The second-highest eighth century in the ODI World Cup and the highest 571 runs in a single edition may give Woolvert some solace. But it will not lessen the pain of not winning the first World Cup!