India-W and South Africa-W stand on cusp of World Cup glory

After a humdinger journey of eight matches and a battle amongst the best teams across the globe, the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup is down to its summit clash. India and South Africa will be taking centrestage with one team certain to achieve a record first in their country's cricketing history. As they stand one final step away from the peak, it is going to be nothing short of a clash to savour.

Team India will be coming into this fixture on the back of an iconic win against Australia where they tumbled a flurry of records, eventually putting up the highest-ever chase in women's ODI history to earn a spot in the final. South Africa, in their semifinal, blew away England, avenging their earlier humiliating defeat, to storm into the summit clash. Both the teams have shown some serious intent and the will to hang in, no matter the circumstances.

South Africa finished third in the group stages, with five wins from seven matches. India, on the contrary, finished fourth, with three wins in their repertoire. The rain-gods played spoilsport in their final group stage battle despite them dominating the fray with an iron fist.

When the two teams collided in the group stages, India had a shocking start but a masterclass from Richa Ghosh saw them put up a formidable total. Their bowlers got hold of the reins early in the game but Nadine de Klerk’s iconic knock ensured that the Proteas had the last laugh in the high-voltage clash. However, prior to their World Cup meet, India registered two back-to-back wins, adding further sheen to their dominance over the Rainbow Nation.

With both teams on the cusp of glory, expect a thrilling contest on the cards in Navi Mumbai.

Venue Watch:

As the last few games have suggested, Navi Mumbai offers a belter of a track for the batters which means that both sides will be eyeing a run-fest. With the kind of firepower that India and South Africa comes to the yard with, one might once again expect the record books to be shattered apart.

Match details:

Match - India vs South Africa, ICC Women's ODI World Cup

Venue – DY Patil Stadium, Visakhapatnam

Date – 2nd November, 2025

Time - 3:00 PM

Head-to-head:

Matches played - 34

India - 20

South Africa - 13

Squads:

India:

Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Amanjot Kaur, Uma Chetry, Shree Charani

South Africa:

Laura Wolvaardt (c), Ayabonga Khaka, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Marizanne Kapp, Tazmin Brits, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Annerie Dercksen, Anneke Bosch, Masabata Klaas, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase