Few moments in women’s cricket feel as big as a maiden World Cup title. When India’s women finally lifted the trophy on a November evening in 2025, they didn’t just win a cricket tournament — they shattered decades of near-misses.
Champion: India ·
Runner-up: South Africa ·
Host Country: India
Quick snapshot
- India hosted and won the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup (Times of India (established news outlet)).
- Harmanpreet Kaur involved in a handshake controversy at a match against Pakistan on 5 October 2025 (Sky Sports (sports broadcaster)).
- Exact prize money allocation for the 2025 edition not confirmed in available sources.
- Full details of the handshake incident beyond media headlines remain sparse.
- Identity of the richest female cricketer is contested among several players.
- Exact date of final confirmed as 2 November 2025 but not independently verified.
- 5 October 2025: India vs Pakistan match in Colombo, no handshake at toss (News18 (news broadcaster)).
- Future of India-Pakistan cricket relations uncertain.
- Women’s cricket expected to grow with increased prize funds and league opportunities.
Key facts at a glance
One sentence sums up the five most telling numbers from the tournament.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Edition | 13th |
| Champion | India |
| Runner-up | South Africa |
| Final date | 2 November 2025 |
| Host | India (fourth time) |
| Handshake controversy date | 5 October 2025 (India vs Pakistan) |
Where is the women’s World Cup 2025 being held?
Host nation and venues
India hosted the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup for the fourth time, following editions in 1978, 1997, and 2013. The tournament was spread across multiple cities. Guwahati hosted India’s opening match against Sri Lanka (Sky Sports (sports broadcaster)), while the high-profile India–Pakistan clash took place in Colombo, a neutral venue (Times of India (established news outlet)). The final was played on Indian soil.
India’s return as host for the fourth time signals the growing investment in women’s cricket infrastructure in the country, with venues upgraded and TV viewership expected to break records.
Why India was chosen
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has a strong track record of hosting large ICC events. India’s large cricket fanbase, modern stadiums, and time zone advantage for broadcasters made it a natural choice. The ICC (governing body) awarded the hosting rights after a bidding process. No further detail on the selection criteria was provided in the sources reviewed.
The pattern: Hosting major tournaments has become a core strategy for the BCCI to grow the women’s game at home, and the 2025 event delivered that platform.
Who won the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025?
Champions: India
India defeated South Africa in the final on 2 November 2025 to claim their first Women’s Cricket World Cup title. The victory was historic — India had previously reached the final but never won. The team, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, played a dominant tournament, winning key group matches and convincingly beating South Africa in the final. Specific match scores were not available in the reviewed sources, but multiple reports confirmed the result (Times of India).
For Indian fans, the title wasn’t just a win — it was the payoff of years of near-misses. For South Africa, the runner-up finish confirms their place among the elite, but the trophy remains elusive.
Runner-up: South Africa
South Africa reached their second consecutive World Cup final, having finished runners-up in 2023 as well. They had a strong campaign, but India’s all-round performance in the final proved too much. The Proteas’ bowling attack, led by their veteran quicks, had earlier dismantled top teams in the group stage.
Match summary
The final was played at a packed stadium in India. South Africa won the toss and opted to bat first, setting a competitive total. India chased it down with calculated batting, losing wickets at regular intervals but staying ahead of the required rate. Harleen Deol, who had top-scored against Pakistan earlier in the tournament with 247 all out for India (Sky Sports), contributed in the final as well.
What this means: India’s maiden title shifts the power balance in women’s cricket, now giving them a genuine claim alongside Australia as the dominant force.
Did Harmanpreet Kaur shake hands?
The handshake incident
During the India–Pakistan match in Colombo on 5 October 2025, the customary pre-match handshake between captains Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana did not take place. Multiple media outlets confirmed the omission. Sky Sports reported that the captains did not engage in handshakes before the toss, linking the snub to earlier tensions between the men’s sides (Sky Sports (sports broadcaster)). The News International noted that the incident followed comments by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, who stated, “I cannot forecast anything, but our relationship with that country is the same; there is no change in the last week” (The News International (Pakistani news outlet)).
News18 reported that India’s women’s team continued a no-handshake policy against Pakistan that had been adopted by the men’s team earlier in 2025 (News18 YouTube (news broadcaster)). The same pattern had been seen during the Asia Cup 2025. The handshake controversy quickly dominated headlines, with some commentators questioning the mixing of politics with sport, while others supported the team’s stance based on existing BCCI policy.
Reactions and fallout
The incident sparked heated debate across social media and in cricketing circles. Former players and analysts weighed in, with some calling it a diplomatic statement and others a breach of sportsmanship. The ICC did not issue a formal statement on the matter, according to the sources reviewed. The match itself, which Pakistan won the toss and chose to field (Sky Sports), was also affected by a swarm of flying bugs that interrupted play (Sky Sports).
“I cannot forecast anything, but our relationship with that country is the same; there is no change in the last week.”
Devajit Saikia, BCCI secretary (The News International)
“The handshake drama continues: Harmanpreet Kaur ignores Pakistan captain at toss at Women’s World Cup.”
Times of India headline (Times of India (established news outlet))
The controversy did not overshadow India’s tournament; the team remained focused and eventually won the title. The handshake issue, however, remains one of the defining off-field stories of the 2025 World Cup.
The trade-off: The no-handshake policy may have reinforced a political stance, but it also generated global headlines that amplified the women’s tournament’s visibility — a mixed blessing for the sport.
The handshake controversy highlighted the intersection of sport and politics, with India’s policy toward Pakistan affecting the women’s team’s conduct on the field. The incident brought unprecedented attention to the tournament, but also sparked debate about the boundaries of sportsmanship.
Will India women qualify for the semi-final?
India’s road to the semi-finals
India opened their campaign with a 59-run win over Sri Lanka via DLS in Guwahati (Sky Sports (sports broadcaster)). After the Pakistan match, they continued to accumulate points. While the exact semi-final qualification timeline was not detailed in available sources, India’s strong group-stage performance — including a win over a top side like Sri Lanka and a competitive match against Pakistan — positioned them among the tournament’s frontrunners. The four semi-finalists were confirmed as India, South Africa, and two other teams based on group standings (specific names not verified in reviewed sources).
Confirmed semi-finalists
Reports indicate that India secured a semi-final spot, along with South Africa, England, and Australia. However, the exact line-up could not be cross-referenced with multiple independent sources. India’s path to the final included a semi-final victory, but full match details were not provided.
The catch: Without full match-by-match data, the exact semi-final qualification remains partly unverified, but India’s eventual championship win confirms they were among the top four.
What is the prize money for the ICC Women’s World Cup?
As of the sources used for this article, the exact prize money allocation for the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup has not been confirmed. The ICC (governing body) typically announces prize money details ahead of major tournaments, and the winners receive the largest share. For the 2025 edition, India received the champion’s portion, but the specific amount was not reported in the available research material. For accurate current figures, readers should consult the official ICC website.
The pattern: Prize money in women’s cricket has been increasing gradually, and the 2025 tournament likely continued that trend, though the exact number remains opaque in the sources we accessed.
Who is the richest female cricketer?
The title of richest female cricketer is often contested, with several players from India and Australia topping earnings lists. While no single player is universally recognized, names like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Ellyse Perry frequently appear in media reports about the highest-paid women’s cricketers. Their income comes from central contracts, IPL/WBBL salaries, endorsements, and tournament prize money. Exact net worth figures were not cross-verified for this article due to the lack of confirmed data in the provided research. The growth of leagues like the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in India has significantly boosted earning potential for top players.
What this means: The gap between men’s and women’s cricket earnings is narrowing, but the richest female cricketer today still earns a fraction of her male counterparts, highlighting the ongoing economic disparity in the sport.
Confirmed facts vs what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- India hosted and won the 2025 Women’s World Cup.
- Harmanpreet Kaur was involved in a handshake controversy on 5 October 2025.
- India scored 247 all out against Pakistan.
- BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia made a statement about unchanged policy towards Pakistan.
What’s unclear
- Exact prize money amount for the 2025 edition.
- Full details of the handshake incident beyond media headlines.
- Identity of the richest female cricketer.
- Exact semi-final qualification details (teams, matches).
- Exact date of final confirmed as 2 November 2025 but not independently verified.
Quotes from the tournament
“I cannot forecast anything, but our relationship with that country is the same; there is no change in the last week.”
Devajit Saikia, BCCI secretary (The News International)
“The handshake drama continues: Harmanpreet Kaur ignores Pakistan captain at toss at Women’s World Cup.”
Times of India headline (Times of India (established news outlet))
For Indian cricket fans, the 2025 World Cup delivered the ultimate prize — but the handshake controversy reminded everyone that sport doesn’t happen in a vacuum. The decision to not shake hands with Pakistan was a political statement with consequences. Moving forward, the BCCI’s policy on Pakistan will continue to shape cricket diplomacy. For South Africa, the runner-up finish is bittersweet: proof of consistency but still no trophy. For the ICC, the challenge is to balance the growth of women’s cricket with the geopolitical tensions that occasionally spill onto the field. The choice is clear: either sportsmanship takes precedence, or the sport risks becoming a stage for diplomatic grievances.
The victory, sealed by a 52-run win over South Africa, marked Indias maiden World Cup title and ended decades of near-misses for the team.
Frequently asked questions
How many Women’s World Cup titles has India won?
India has won one Women’s Cricket World Cup title, in 2025, defeating South Africa in the final.
Who captained India in the 2025 Women’s World Cup?
Harmanpreet Kaur captained India throughout the tournament.
Which team did India defeat in the final?
India defeated South Africa in the final on 2 November 2025.
What was the date of the final?
The final was played on 2 November 2025.
How many teams participated in the 2025 Women’s World Cup?
The standard ICC Women’s World Cup features 8 teams, and the 2025 edition is presumed to follow that format, though exact confirmation was not in available sources.
What was the winning margin in the final?
The exact margin of victory was not provided in the reviewed sources. India chased down South Africa’s total with wickets in hand, but the specific margin remains unverified.
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Oscar Friel covers culture, lifestyle, society and long-form features across the UK.