India and South Africa prepare for seismic final

by Kheltoday · November 2, 2025

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We want to play the moment and win that moment: Jemimah Rodrigues

Rakesh Thapliyal

Navi Mumbai: A new name will be engraved on the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup trophy on Sunday – and whether it be India or South Africa, it will mark a seismic moment in the history of the sport.

Australia and England have previously dominated this tournament by winning it 11 times between them but were blown away in two matches the women’s game may look back upon in years to come as a significant turning point.

The host’s route to the final, and especially their colossal win against Australia in the second semi-final, has captured the imagination of an cricket-adoring public.

In the age of TikTok, it’s individuals that move the needle and, while India have a roll call of cricketing icons, Jemimah Rodrigues might be one of the most important.

Her match-winning 127 not out to beat Australia was remarkable given both the pressure of the run-chase and the significance of the match. However, it pales into significance when stacked up against how she spoke so candidly about mental health during the tournament.

“I’ll be very vulnerable here because I know someone watching this might be going through the same thing,” she said.

“Nobody likes to talk about their weaknesses, but I was going through a lot of anxiety at the start of the tournament, and it was a lot. Before a few games I used to call my mum and cry

“When you’re going through anxiety, you just feel numb. You don’t know what to do. You’re trying to be yourself.

“I’m very grateful for the people who believed in me when I couldn’t and were there for me and understood me because I couldn’t do this on my own.”

With Harmanpreet Kaur, also an icon, steering the ship, there is a strong unity among the squad and momentum is with them.

“We want to play the moment and win that moment,” Rodrigues added.

“We want to play the match and win the match, and whichever team would come, I think our reply would be the same. We would play with the same passion, same aggression. We play to win this match for India.”

South Africa have been knocking on the door for some time. Wednesday marked their third straight ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final, while they have also contested the last two ICC Women’s T20 World Cup finals.

However, the Proteas have found converting talent into trophies difficult to do on both the men’s and women’s sides – until the men became ICC World Test champions in June.

The women arrive in Navi Mumbai blessed with a world-class team forged over many years, led by superstar opening batter Laura Wolvaardt and backed up by the new ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup all-time wicket-taker in Marizanne Kapp. This is, they feel, their destiny.

“I am very proud of the girls and the way we’ve been performing over the last couple of years,” Kapp said.

“Not a lot of people believed in us. We’ve just been so blessed to have performed the way we have over the last couple of years.

“I have to give a lot of credit to (head coach) Mandla Mashimbyi. I feel like since he’s come on board, we have had a different outlook on the game. This team is like family.

“Cricket isn’t everything. Maybe I’m on this path for another reason, I don’t know. But having these girls around, having our team management around and then our families, especially if it doesn’t go our way, they’re always there, no matter what the outcome.

“That’s what’s been really special for us. Just knowing I can go back to my family. But this is what we are here for, the Women’s Cricket World Cup. We have the chance to create history.”

Five key battles at the Women’s Cricket World Cup Final

With multiple match-winners on both sides, there is plenty of intrigue ahead of the Women’s Cricket World Cup Final between India and South Africa.

Broadcast Details for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup

A new winner of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup is set to be crowned.

As India stare down history at home in Navi Mumbai, Laura Wolvaardt’s South Africa too look to break new ground, going one better than falling short in multiple Final appearances at ICC events in recent years by beating Harmanpreet Kaur’s side a second time at the tournament.

Ahead of the Final, we look at five battles that could dictate the match.

India’s new-ball bowlers v South Africa top-order

Even if it didn’t lead to victory in Vizag when the teams met in the league phase on October 9, India should take confidence out of a strong new-ball performance, consigning their opponents to 18/2 inside six overs, and helping the likes of the spinners to pin the Proteas down at 81/5.

Laura Wolvaardt watched on at the non-striker’s end as Tazmin Brits (0), Sune Luus (5), Marizanne Kapp (20) and Anneke Bosch (1) fell, though South Africa’s skipper found a partner in Chloe Tryon in a 61-run stand to begin the fightback in their eventual victory.

Wolvaardt (470) leads the tournament run tally, though opening partner Brits has been inconsistent, unable to match her century against New Zealand in their second match.

Brits could consider herself a little unlucky with her dismissal against India in the league phase, though young star Kranti Gaud would disagree, having forced a half-chance that was taken with one hand in a stunning return catch.

There will be further questions too for South Africa given key quick Renuka Singh Thakur did not feature in the league phase fixture.

Kranti Gaud’s one-handed screamer off her own bowling | CWC25

Kranti Gaud with an early catch of the tournament contender as she takes a one-handed catch of Tazmin Brits during India’s ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 clash.

Marizanne Kapp v Smriti Mandhana

The most prolific wicket-taker in Women’s World Cup history will take the new ball against the current No.1-ranked ODI batter in a match-up of dreams for a capacity crowd and millions watching at home.

Kapp comes into the match with her tail up, having broken the tournament record tally set by Jhulan Goswami with a performance of 5/20 against England in the semi-final, including three of the English top four.

Mandhana meanwhile was strangled down the leg-side in a run-a-ball 24 in India’s semi-final win over Australia, making two fifties and a century on India’s path to the finale, and only dismissed in single figures once – back in the tournament opener against Sri Lanka on 30 September.

Their history in ODI cricket hints at a mutual respect between the players too: Kapp has dismissed Mandhana just once in 116 balls, though the India batter has operated at a strike rate of just 62 when they have faced off.

Marizanne Kapp’s twin strikes in first over | CWC25

Marizanne Kapp plucks the wicket of Amy Jones and Heather Knight in the first over of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 semi-final.

Jemimah Rodrigues v SA middle-over bowlers

India’s 25-year-old star of the middle-order has been the rightful talk of international cricket since a conquering 127 not out to sink defending champions Australia in the semi-final, though coming back three days to emulate the success means a brand new challenge.

There will be extra focus from Rodrigues having been dismissed for a duck when the teams met in the league phase, though a lot has transpired in the three weeks between fixtures, of which Rodrigues has detailed with such refreshing honesty.

Dropped and called back up into the XI during the tournament, fighting on multiple fronts to feature and eventually flourish again in India colours, Rodrigues will likely be targeted with left-arm spin through particularly through Chloe Tryon and Nonkululeko Mlaba, the former removing her earlier in the competition.

India deliver record chase to reach Final | Match Highlights | CWC25

A historic win from India to win the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 semi-final against Australia.

Deepti Sharma’s tough test v South Africa’s right-handers

Deepti Sharma has a golden chance to finish the competition alone at the top of the tournament wicket tally, though stares down arguably her most pressure-filled test at a World Cup Final.

The spinner claimed the early wicket of Anneke Bosch in the earlier encounter at the tournament, though South Africa’s batters leveraged their comeback against Deepti, eventually finishing with 1/54.

Deepti is currently tied with Australian seamer Annabel Sutherland for the most wickets at this edition of the tournament.

Deepti Sharma dials in with the ball | Best of league stage | CWC25

India’s spin-bowling all-rounder has been an asset so far at Cricket World Cup 2025

Nadine de Klerk v India’s death bowlers

Nadine de Klerk’s 84 not out off just 54 balls will no doubt remain fresh in India’s memory, with the 13-boundary blitz pulling a win out of the fire for the Proteas and stunning tournament hosts.

Deep into South Africa’s innings, with high scores promised in Navi Mumbai, de Klerk’s output with the bat is destined to be counted on again. In response, it may just be India’s homework that leads to a different outcome.

How will India respond? Do they hold left-arm spin back to counter a late threat? Or will resources not be tucked away for a potential No.8 batter? The prospects of de Klerk’s big hitting will give Harmanpreet Kaur plenty to think about, especially if South Africa lay down an even stronger base than that in the league stage meeting.