2 mistakes and 1 masterstroke by India in the Women's World Cup 2025 final vs South Africa ft. Richa Ghosh

India finished the 2025 Women's World Cup on a magical note as they beat South Africa by 52 runs in front of a full house at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, November 2. The Women in Blue, who beat Australia in the semifinal, went all the way for the first time in their history.

India weren't always at their sharpest from a tactical perspective in the tournament. However, things got better towards the business end as Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. figured out not just their ideal combination but also thei players' ideal positions in the lineup. That didn't mean that everything was perfect, though, even on the big night.

On that note, here are two mistakes and one masterstroke by India in the final of the Women's World Cup 2025.

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#3 Mistake - India didn't get Richa Ghosh's entry point right

India v Australia Semi-Final 2: ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 - Source: Getty

Richa Ghosh came to bat in the 44th over, with the Indian score reading 245/5. Amanjot Kaur, who was sent in head of her in the 39th over, managed 12 runs off 14 balls before being dismissed by Nadine de Klerk.

Richa has been one of India's most dynamic batters across formats, and India needed to ensure that she got to bat at least 15 overs. They gave her less than seven overs to make an impact, and luckily, the youngster delivered with a sparkling 34 off 24 balls.

Not for the first time in the Women's World Cup 2025, India delayed Richa's entry point for no apparent reason.

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#2 Masterstroke - Harmanpreet Kaur turned to Shafali Verma, the bowler

India v South Africa: ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 Final - Source: Getty

With Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus stitching together a decent 52-run partnership, Harmanpreet Kaur needed to search for a breakthrough. Incredibly, the Indian skipper turned to the part-time spin of Shafali Verma as the seventh bowling option.

Shafali delivered almost immediately, having Luus caught and bowled. South Africa's best player of spin was deceived by an angled-seam delivery that wasn't intended to turn inward as she ended up spooning a simple return catch. Marizanne Kapp followed soon after, strangled down the leg-side.

Shafali went on to bowl seven overs and had a better economy rate than Shree Charani and Radha Yadav while also picking up more wickets. It was a truly masterful decision from Harmanpreet, one that few could've anticipated.

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#1 Mistake - India could've bowled out their spinners earlier to kill the game

India v South Africa: ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 Final - Source: Getty

Dew was expected in the second innings, but luckily for India, it stayed away. The spinners got more grip and turn as the innings progressed, beating the South African batters on a regular basis and asking questions on both edges.

Given those conditions, Harmanpreet could've been more aggressive with her spin options and tried to close out the game sooner. Annerie Dercksen capitalized on Radha's inaccuracy to smack two sixes at a time when the frontline spinners had enough overs left.

Even later in the piece, Harmanpreet turned to Renuka Singh Thakur instead of the spinners, all of whom had overs left. Had De Klerk got a couple of sixes away off the pacer, India would've come under immense pressure.

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Edited by Sai Krishna