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Deepti Sharma led India to its first Women’s ODI World Cup title with a fifty and five wickets, earning Player of the Tournament and setting historic records at DY Patil Stadium.
Deepti Sharma poses with the Women’s World Cup trophy and her Player of the Tournament award (Instagram)
“Every moment felt like a step closer to something larger than all of us.”
That’s how India’s World Cup hero Deepti Sharma summed up her journey after leading the country to its first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup title and clinching the Player of the Tournament award.
In a rain-affected final at a packed DY Patil Stadium, India posted a commanding 298/7, driven by Shafali Verma’s 87 and Deepti’s blistering 58. South Africa, despite captain Laura Wolvaardt’s fighting century (101), were bowled out for 246, handing India a 52-run win and their maiden World Cup crown.
Deepti capped off her dream night with an all-round masterclass — a fluent fifty followed by a five-wicket haul (5/39) — guiding India home within the closing stages to script a historic triumph.
Following the win, an emotional Deepti took to Instagram to reflect on the moment that defined her profession thus far.
“Still soaking all of it in. From the primary ball of the tournament to that last wicket in the ultimate, every moment felt like a step closer to something larger than all of us,” Deepti wrote.
“Each time I walk out on the sphere, my only thought is to present the whole lot for my team. The assumption my teammates and coaches have in me keeps me going, especially in those tough moments.
“This award is special, but nothing compares to lifting that trophy together. Happy with this team! Proud to be Indian!” she concluded.
Deepti’s performance was truly one for the ages. She became the primary cricketer, male or female, to attain a fifty and take a five-for in a World Cup knockout match.
She also registered a singular double — 200-plus runs and 20-plus wickets in a single ODI World Cup — a feat unmatched in each men’s and girls’s editions.
Her tally of 215 runs and 22 wickets ranks amongst the all-time in World Cup history. No Indian woman before her had ever managed the fifty-plus and five-wicket double in the identical ODI.
And with all of it, one can bet that Deepti has blazed a trail for generations to follow.
After training in the sphere of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the sphere of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
November 04, 2025, 23:43 IST
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