Historic World Cup Win for India
India secured their first ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title on home territory, triumphing over South Africa by 52 runs in the final. Deepti Sharma played a pivotal role, showcasing her all-round skills throughout the tournament. With this victory, India became the fourth nation to claim the Women’s World Cup title, joining Australia (7 titles), England (4 titles), and New Zealand (1 title).
Record-Breaking Tournament Stats
This edition of the Women’s World Cup set several records in terms of run rates and batting performance. For the first time, the tournament had an average run-rate exceeding five runs per over (5.14). Over 31 matches, there were 15 individual centuries — the most for any single edition — and the highest average first-innings total (235) in World Cup history. Eight scores of over 300 runs were recorded, doubling the previous record set in 2022.
Batting Highlights
Laura Wolvaardt led the batting charts with over 570 runs, making her the highest run-scorer in a single edition. She also achieved the feat of scoring a century in both the semi-final and final of a World Cup, joining Alyssa Healy in this exclusive list. Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues excelled, with Rodrigues delivering a match-defining innings of 127 in the semi-final against Australia.
Exceptional All-Round Performances
Deepti Sharma became the first woman to score over 200 runs and take more than 20 wickets in a Women’s ODI tournament. Shafali Verma also made history as the youngest Player of the Match in an ODI World Cup semi-final or final. Harmanpreet Kaur achieved the distinction of being the oldest captain to win the Women’s World Cup while also amassing the most runs (331) in Women’s ODI World Cup knockouts.
Toss Trends and Spin Success
The toss did not significantly influence match outcomes, with only 40% of teams winning after calling correctly. This World Cup highlighted a noticeable reliance on slower bowlers, especially left-arm spinners, who took 106 wickets at an average of 24.53. Indian slow bowlers contributed significantly, with left-arm spinners being the most economical throughout the tournament.
Fielding Challenges
Fielding was generally a weak point for all teams involved. India faced difficulties with 20 dropped catches and ranked low in catching efficiency at 66.6%. In contrast, England and Australia demonstrated significantly better catching statistics, with England leading at 77.5%. The overall catching efficiency of 68% was the lowest recorded in the last four editions.
Australia’s Loss and Future Prospects
Australia, a dominant force with seven previous titles, saw their winning streak end in the semi-finals against India. This World Cup marked a significant moment for women’s cricket, showcasing high-quality matches and record audiences. With India’s emotional home victory, the tournament is poised to inspire a new generation of cricketers, as noted by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.
