Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium is set to host a historic final of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, pitting hosts India against the formidable South Africa. Harmanpreet Kaur’s Indian team, energized by a thrilling semifinal win, is on the cusp of claiming their maiden ODI World Cup title. Their path to the final was not without challenges, including a prior league-stage defeat against a South African side that has been dominant throughout the competition.
Laura Wolvaardt’s South African team is also striving for a historic first, aiming to surpass previous final appearances by clinching the coveted Women’s ODI World Cup trophy. They defeated India convincingly in their earlier league match, a memory India will be keen to erase on the grandest stage.
Key to India’s success will be their new-ball bowlers’ ability to replicate their early pressure from the league-stage encounter. In that match, they reduced South Africa to a precarious 18/2 within the opening six overs, with only a resilient partnership preventing a complete collapse. Laura Wolvaardt’s consistent run-scoring has been a cornerstone of South Africa’s campaign, but the team’s reliance on her form and the inconsistency of her opening partner could be an area India targets. The potential return of Renuka Singh Thakur adds further depth to India’s pace attack, posing a fresh challenge for the Proteas’ top order.
The spotlight will intensely focus on the duel between Marizanne Kapp and Smriti Mandhana. Kapp, who recently broke the all-time World Cup wicket-taking record, is in blistering form. Mandhana, the world’s top-ranked ODI batter, has been India’s talisman. While Mandhana has a strong overall record, Kapp has historically kept her scoring in check, making this a captivating battle of skill and nerve.
Jemimah Rodrigues’s middle-order heroics in the semifinal have put her in the spotlight. However, she faces a different challenge against South Africa’s spin attack, particularly Chloe Tryon and Nonkululeko Mlaba, who dismissed her for a golden duck earlier in the tournament. Her ability to navigate these middle-over spinners will be critical for India’s batting momentum.
Deepti Sharma faces a significant test in the final as she aims to finish as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. South Africa’s batters managed to score freely against her in their previous meeting, highlighting the challenge she faces in the high-pressure final. Her duel against South Africa’s right-handed batters will be closely watched.
Nadine de Klerk’s match-winning performance with the bat in the league stage, where she single-handedly turned the game, serves as a stark warning for India. Her ability to hit boundaries and accelerate the scoring in the death overs makes her a major threat. India’s bowling strategy, especially their plans for the lower order, will be heavily influenced by the potential impact of de Klerk’s powerful hitting.