India`s Prime Minister Narendra Modi heaped praise on Team India for the historic triumph at the ODI Women`s World Cup 2025.
Following the achievement, Modi hosted the entire team at his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg on Wednesday.
During the ODI Women`s World Cup 2025 campaign, one of the key players from Team India was Pratika Rawal. Having featured in seven matches, she scored 308 runs with an average of 51.33.
However, she missed out on the semi-final and title clash as she sustained an injury. During the meeting with the Prime Minister, Pratika spoke about her injury and also revealed how she learned about the team discussions in the dressing room.
The 25-year-old cricketer said that despite missing out on the final, she received the same respect.
“When I was injured, a lot of members in the team said that we want to win this World Cup for Pratika. I got to know this from someone outside the team. When we won the finals, I was the 16th player, but I was given the same respect. I was taken to the stage in a wheelchair. This team is like a family. When a family plays together, it becomes difficult to beat that team. This team deserved to win the finals,” said the Delhi-born cricketer.
“Team spirit matters a lot, not only on the field. If we now the strength and weaknesses of each other, it helps us a lot,” Modi said while responding to Rawal.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked about Cricketer Pratika Rawal`s injury while playing against Bangladesh.
Cricketer Pratika Rawal says, “When I was injured, a lot of members in the team said that we want to win this World Cup for Pratika. I got to know this from… pic.twitter.com/mIn4U5UAxS
— ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2025
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.