Rain delays Women’s World Cup final as India and South Africa chase first title

THE HIGHLY anticipated ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 final between India and South Africa has been delayed due to persistent rain in Navi Mumbai.

Ground staff had the pitch under covers for more than half an hour as showers fell on the venue, forcing the toss to be postponed.

When play eventually begins, history is guaranteed: neither India nor South Africa has ever lifted a Women’s ODI World Cup title. One way or another, a new champion will be crowned.

Wolvaardt: 'It’s going to be an exciting opportunity’

South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt said her team was looking forward to the challenge of facing India in front of a home crowd, calling it a chance to make history.

“I think it’s going to be a very tough game. With the whole crowd behind India, probably a sold-out stadium, it's going to be an exciting opportunity,” Wolvaardt told reporters on the eve of the final.

“But at the same time, I think it puts a lot of pressure on them (India) as well. They have the whole country behind them and are sort of expected to win, I guess.

"It sort of plays in our favour, hopefully. I’m very excited for the game. They’re a very good side. We have to play some really good cricket to beat them,” Wolvaardt said.

South Africa’s path to the final

The Proteas became the first team to secure a place in the final after a commanding 125-run victory over four-time champions England.

India followed with an upset of their own, knocking out defending champions Australia to reach the final for the third time.

It will be the first Women’s Cricket World Cup final in history without either England or Australia — a sign, Wolvaardt believes, of the game’s growing competitiveness.

“It just shows how much the women's game is developing, and different countries are being able to use new resources and develop really good quality cricketers.

"I think we’ve also come a long way as a team and are really proud of the strides we have made in the last couple of years. So yeah, I'm very excited for the opportunity to play in a final.”

A breakthrough moment for South African women’s cricket

Wolvaardt has been one of the tournament’s standout performers, consistently leading from the front with the bat and steering her side through key moments. Under her captaincy, the Proteas recovered from a shaky start to post five consecutive wins — including a victory over India — before eliminating England in the semi-final.

The South African skipper said a World Cup triumph could be transformative for the sport back home.

“Now is the opportunity to go one step further, and I could only imagine what it could do for women’s cricket in the country,” she said.

"Either way, I’m really proud of the group and I think we’ve had a really good tournament up until this final.

"We’ve already created quite a noise back home and are getting messages from people who have started watching women’s cricket because of this tournament.”

India ready for rematch after shock semi-final win

Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, India will take the field with renewed confidence after their semi-final win over Australia — a performance that ended the defending champions’ campaign.

Their earlier defeat to South Africa in the group stage will still be fresh in memory, but the hosts enter the final buoyed by home support and a chance to secure their first-ever world title.

Once the rain clears, all eyes will turn to Navi Mumbai — where one team’s wait for history will finally end.