'The Women in Blue's final act drew a peak concurrency of 21 million viewers as Harmanpreet Kaur's team became the first Asian team to lift the Women's World Cup.'
Harmanpreet-led India scripted history on Sunday, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final to secure their maiden ICC Women's World Cup title.
Harmanpreet Kaur's side would become the fourth team to book the semifinal berth if they get the better of the White Ferns here on the familiar mat of the DY Patil Stadium.
Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma's superb all-round showing powered India to a historic first-ever Women's ODI World Cup title after they outclassed South Africa by 52 runs in the final.
India will have a final opportunity to iron out any flaws, especially when responding to pressure situations, when they take on Bangladesh in their concluding fixture ahead of Women's World Cup semi-finals, in Navi Mumbai, on Sunday.
India have a mounting worry in the lack of runs so far from talismanic Smriti Mandhana, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and the energetic Jemimah Rodrigues.
WPL 2026 auction to be held on November 27 in New Delhi
#WeTheWomen returned to Mumbai for its eighth edition.
She was adjudged the Player of the Tournament for her consistent all-round display throughout the showpiece event.
'Her outstanding performance in the World Cup has definitely added to her brand value significantly. The high WPL bids validate it more.'
India won their maiden Women's World Cup title with a 52-run victory over South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.
In a first for the tournament, the WPL final will not be played over the weekend, but on Thursday, February, probably to avoid a clash with the men's T20 World Cup, which begins the same week in India and Sri Lanka.
All eyes are now on November 25, when all the specs, varians and pricing will be made known.
'...I think they deserve the trophy the way they played the semi-final game'
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian side landed in the evening after completing their warm-up games in Bengaluru.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain on Friday said Harmanpreet Kaur boasts of a fantastic World Cup record and it's time the Indian women's team skipper delivered like her Australian counterpart Alyssa Healy.
Perry hailed India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues for batting India into the World Cup final, saying their composure under pressure earned applause even from their dressing room.
The lack of runs from captain Suryakumar Yadav and his deputy Shubman Gill remains a talking point.
After winning the ODI World Cup title by beating South Africa in the final in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, November 2, 2025, Harmanpreet's advice to budding youngsters is: "Never stop dreaming. You never know where your destiny will take you."
They weren't up for a windfall even after the trophy but life was certain to get a lot better as some sponsors and state governments stepped up to lift them financially.
Shafali Verma turned doubt into destiny as India lifted their first-ever Women's World Cup title.
Respect over rivalry? India-Pakistan face-off awaits
Harmanpreet before WC final: Know how it feels to lose, looking toward to experience winning
If the men of 1983 gave India a reason to dream, the women of 2025 could give it something rarer -- the courage to live that dream in full daylight, under an open sky that finally belongs to them, points out Prem Panicker.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led India will be playing an ODI World Cup final for the third time, having finished runners-up in 2005 and 2017 to Australia and England, respectively. This will be South Africa's maiden appearance in the final.
Half-centuries from Harleen Deol and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur helped India secure a four-wicket win via the DLS Method in their second ICC Women's World Cup warm-up match in Bengaluru on Saturday.
The ICC handed a two-match suspension to India women's team skipper Harmanpreet Kaur for her boorish behaviour during the third ODI against Bangladesh.
The victorous Indian team sung a new victory anthem to celebrate winning their first World Cup.
Harmanpreet Kaur and her team's maiden World Cup title is not just a turning point for cricket in the country but a watershed moment for Indian sports, feels women's head coach Amol Muzumdar.
Their remarkable World Cup-winning campaign was not the only topic covered when India's women cricketers sat down for a light-hearted conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence where tattoos and even skin care routine came up for discussion.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side will face South Africa on Thursday and the defending champions Australia on October 12 at the ACA-VDCA stadium in Visakhapatnam.
Shafali toils in India nets ahead of World Cup semifinal against Australia
Jemimah Rodrigues played the innings of her life, slamming a century for the ages as India pulled off a record chase to storm into the Women's World Cup final after a five-wicket victory over defending champions Australia in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.
Potential windfall for women's squad: BCCI might match prize money of T20 WC winning men's team
When there was constant criticism, Harman and Smriti kept the team together: Neetu David
Many months into his retirement from T20I and Test format, the 38-year-old right-hander on Tuesday said he is getting used to sitting at home and watching the action unfold on television instead of being part of it.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes the win will send a clear message that the long-standing dominance of other teams is over. However, he drew an interesting distinction between this historic triumph and the men's 1983 World Cup win.
The victorious Indian women's cricket team led by Harmanpreet Kaur touched down in the national capital on Tuesday evening for its meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.
Under pressure to revive their campaign after back-to-back defeats, India will have to consider adding a sixth bowler to bring more balance to their attack when they face England in a crucial Women's ODI World Cup match, in Indore, on Sunday.
Drama struck even before the first delivery of the India-Pakistan Women's World Cup match at Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday
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