The Indian women`s cricket team scripted history by clinching their first-ever World Cup title in the One-Day Internationals (ODIs. In the final of the recently concluded ODI Women`s World Cup 2025, Team India defeated South Africa by 52 runs at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.
Following the victory, India`s Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the entire team at his residence, Lok Kalyan Marg, on Thursday. He also conducted a brief conversation with the players and support staff.
Expressing his views on the meeting with the PM, Team India`s incumbent head coach Amol Muzumdar said that the moment will be cherished throughout the lives by all the people present here. He also labelled it as a surreal feeling.
“It was a surreal feeling, to be very honest. We are grateful and really thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He spent so much time just chatting and spending time with all the players and support staff as well. It was a surreal moment which will be cherished by all 37 of us who were present there. We will cherish those moments throughout our lives,” said the 50-year-old head coach.
During the meeting, the “Women in Blue” also gifted a jersey to Modi with the signatures of all the players and “Namo” and number one written on it.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president, Mithun Manhas, also made his appearance in New Delhi.
Earlier, in an attempt to chase the target of 299 runs, the Proteas were bowled out for 246 runs in 45.3 overs.
Skipper Laura Wolvaardt departed after scoring 101 runs off 98 deliveries, with the help of 11 boundaries and a maximum.
Deepti Sharma was the most successful bowler for the hosts. Bowling 9.3 overs, she bagged five wickets for 39 runs. Shafali Verma, too, claimed two wickets by conceding 36 runs in seven overs. Nallapureddy Charani also picked up one wicket for 48 runs in nine overs.
Renuka Singh, Kranti Goud, Amanjot Kaur, and Radha Yadav went wicketless in the final of the ODI Women`s World Cup 2025.
Earlier, Shafali Verma delivered a strong start to Team India. She played a stunning knock of 87 runs in 78 balls, and her innings included seven boundaries and two maximums. Deepti Sharma steered India`s innings, scoring 58 runs in the same number of deliveries. Her knock was laced with three boundaries and a maximum.
Richa Ghosh, too, joined the party and smashed three boundaries and two maximums. Ghosh`s knock ended with a score of 34 runs off 24 balls. Riding on their knocks, the “Women in Blue” posted a total of 298 runs for the loss of seven wickets.
Ayabonga Khaka emerged as the most successful bowler for South Africa in the final match of the ODI Women`s World Cup 2025. She bowled nine overs and claimed three wickets after conceding 58 runs. Nonkululeko Mlaba, Nadine de Klerk, and Chloe Tryon registered one wicket each.
(With ANI Inputs)