Women’s Cricket World Cup final: Proteas stand between Women in Blue and ultimate glory

As nations, there are several parallels one can draw between India and South Africa. Both were European colonies that fought for their freedom, and both had remarkable social movements that changed the face of their cultural fabric. Both are diverse nations with similar economic backbones in industry and agriculture, and both share a passion for cricket.

Come Sunday, both nations will find themselves intertwined once more, in a clash for ultimate One-Day glory. This time, in the final of the Women’s World Cup at the D.Y. Patil Stadium here.

This is new territory for the Proteas, who have made the semifinals thrice (2000, 2017 and 2022). India, though, has fallen short of a coronation twice (2005 and 2017).

Captains Harmanpreet Kaur and Laura Wolvaardt concurred on entering this game with no baggage. India lost to South Africa courtesy of a blitz from Nadine de Klerk in the league stage. That game and the loss to England later exposed the home side’s inability to close out matches, even from winning positions.

But the taming of mighty Australia was a shot in the arm for the Women in Blue. Not only did the batting order persevere, not falling to the usual pattern of collapses the team is infamous for, but its bowling too was impressive, propped up by the audacious zeal of youngsters like Kranti Gaud and Sree Charani.

South Africa also brushed aside how losses bookended its league stage run with a dominant all-round thrashing of long-time bully England in the semifinal in Guwahati, orchestrated by Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp.

India holds the aces in this clash with a batting order that looks terrifying in home conditions. Even though Smriti Mandhana — the side’s most prolific scorer in the format this year — has blown hot and cold this tournament, perseverance from the middle and lower-order has kept it going. Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet being among the runs further plump up India’s case.

Renuka Thakur’s steady presence offers balance to the raw, growing pace of Kranti. If the semifinal played here is anything to go by — even though the final is being played on the strip used for the league fixture against New Zealand — bowlers might not get much from the surface, with life getting harder when dew sets in. Tight lines and near-perfect fielding will be the immediate mandate.

The Proteas look to Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits for stability. After the 2022 World Cup, the duo has the most runs for an opening pair, having amassed 1,858. The middle-order featuring the likes of Anneke Bosch, Annerie Dercksen, and Sinalo Jafta, however, has not had a great run with the bat, even struggling to rotate strike when the squeeze is on.

De Klerk and Chloe Tryon’s spunk in the death helped the Proteas ace a few tense chases. Against an Indian side that is riding high and a potential date with destiny while being propped up by a passionate home crowd, it will take something special from the Proteas to make history.

The teams (from): India: Harmanpreet Kaur (Capt.), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-capt.), Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud.

South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (Capt.), Ayabonga Khaka, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Marizanne Kapp, Tazmin Brits, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Annerie Dercksen, Anneke Bosch, Masabata Klaas, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase.

Match starts at 3 p.m. IST.

Published – November 01, 2025 09:21 pm IST