'...I think they deserve the trophy the way they played the semi-final game'
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.
Lots to look forward to in Indian sports as packed 2026 calender awaits
A deafening roar at Twickenham capped a 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup that smashed attendance records, while India's first Women's Cricket World Cup triumph sparked nationwide celebrations.
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.
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."
From Royal Challengers Bengaluru's historic first IPL title to star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra finally breaking the iconic 90-meter mark to India women winning their first cricket World Cup, this was the year of long-awaited victories and record-breaking feats.
All eyes are now on November 25, when all the specs, varians and pricing will be made known.
Shafali Verma turned doubt into destiny as India lifted their first-ever Women's World Cup title.
#WeTheWomen returned to Mumbai for its eighth edition.
Harmanpreet before WC final: Know how it feels to lose, looking toward to experience winning
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.
The Indian men ruled white-ball cricket, while South Africa ended decades of hurt by winning the World Test Championship at Lord's. Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally lifted their maiden IPL title, though the celebrations were dimmed by a deadly stampede. Above all, it was India's women who won a billion hearts by finally adding an ICC World Cup trophy to the cabinet.
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.
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.
India, who have never won the ODI World Cup in any of its previous 12 editions, will co-host the eight-team tournament with Sri Lanka with all eyes on Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. to end the long wait for a title.
'Now, the sport has the opportunity to transcend barriers -- of gender, of perception, of accessibility.'
Shafali toils in India nets ahead of World Cup semifinal against Australia
'Her outstanding performance in the World Cup has definitely added to her brand value significantly. The high WPL bids validate it more.'
The victorous Indian team sung a new victory anthem to celebrate winning their first World Cup.
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.
Drama struck even before the first delivery of the India-Pakistan Women's World Cup match at Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday
Potential windfall for women's squad: BCCI might match prize money of T20 WC winning men's team
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.
Both teams began their World Cup campaigns in contrasting fashion. Hosts India defeated Sri Lanka by 59 runs, while Pakistan, collapsed against Bangladesh, losing by seven wickets in a match where they struggled against both pace and spin.
'Shafali is in our system, we have our eye on her and the more she plays she will be able to serve India in the future in ODIs.'
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.
When there was constant criticism, Harman and Smriti kept the team together: Neetu David
India's top order did not take responsibility to bat well against South Africa, captain Harmanpreet Kaur said after her side lost by three wickets.
After being outplayed in the opener, Harmanpreet Kaur and her team roared back with a stunning 102-run victory, which was Australia's heaviest defeat in terms of runs. It was also India's first win over them in 12 matches.
The lack of runs from captain Suryakumar Yadav and his deputy Shubman Gill remains a talking point.
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.
India will have a final opportunity to check their game in pressure situation when they face Bangladesh in Navi Mumbai on Sunday in what would be a dress rehearsal ahead of the marquee Women's World Cup semifinals against Australia next Wednesday.
Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma guided India to a historic 52-run victory over South Africa which saw the ICC Women's World Cup 2025 hosts lift the trophy for the first time.
The tension between India and Pakistan's cricket teams resurfaced once again - this time at the Women's World Cup 2025 in Colombo
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates on Wednesday visited the Mahakaleshwar temple to offer prayers ahead of their Women's World Cup fixture against England at Indore's Holkar Stadium on Sunday.
World champions Amanjot and Harleen get grand welcome in Chandigarh
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.
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