Harmanpreet Kaur Credits Gut Feeling for Shafali Verma Gamble as India Clinches Maiden Women’s World Cup

November 3, 2025, New Delhi India captain Harmanpreet Kaur revealed that it was her instinct — not a pre-planned strategy — that led to the inspired decision to hand the ball to part-time spinner Shafali Verma during the ICC Women’s World Cup final at Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium. The move proved decisive, as India claimed their maiden World Cup title after defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a pulsating contest that will be remembered for Verma’s all-round brilliance and Kaur’s fearless captaincy. Shafali Verma, who had already impressed with a blistering 87 at the top of the order to anchor India’s total of 298 for seven, became the unexpected bowling hero when she broke South Africa’s momentum with two crucial wickets. South Africa had been cruising at 113 for two in 20 overs, with captain Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus building what seemed to be a match-winning partnership. In a bold move, Kaur tossed the ball to Verma — who had gone wicketless in all five ODIs she had previously bowled — and the gamble paid off spectacularly. “When Laura and Sune were batting, they were looking really good,” Kaur said at the post-match presentation. “I just saw Shafali standing there and something told me to give her an over. It was purely a gut feeling. If my heart was saying it, I had to go with it. And that over changed everything.” The 21-year-old Verma responded in style, dismissing Sune Luus with her second delivery before removing Marizanne Kapp in her next over. Her unexpected spell derailed South Africa’s chase and turned the tide in India’s favor. Her combined efforts with bat and ball earned her the Player of the Match award, capping off a dream night for the young star. Verma, who was drafted into the squad ahead of the knockout stage as a late replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal, proved to be the team’s secret weapon. “When she came to the team, we told her we might need a couple of overs from her,” Kaur revealed. “She smiled and said, ‘If you ask me, I’ll bowl 10 overs.’ Salute to her confidence and spirit.” Despite falling short, South African captain Laura Wolvaardt found pride in her team’s performance and the growth they showed throughout the tournament. “It’s unfortunate to be on the losing side today, but I’m sure we’ll definitely grow from this as a group,” Wolvaardt said. “We were either really good or really bad, but thankfully, there was a lot more really good throughout this tournament. There were so many different players stepping up. It’s been an amazing tournament for a lot of them, and I’m just really proud of the resilience we showed to make it all the way to the final.” India’s triumph not only marked a historic first World Cup win for the women’s team but also showcased the perfect blend of intuition, teamwork, and fearless leadership — hallmarks of a champion side Harmanpreet’s Gut Feeling, Shafali’s Magic: India’s World Cup Glory A captain’s instinct and a young star’s brilliance sealed India’s first Women’s World Cup title at Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium. Harmanpreet Kaur’s bold call to hand the ball to Shafali Verma turned the game on its head, as the 21-year-old claimed two key wickets after smashing a fiery 87 with the bat. Shafali’s all-round heroics and Kaur’s fearless leadership powered India past South Africa by 52 runs, ending years of near misses. A moment of intuition, courage, and teamwork — this victory is a defining chapter in India’s cricketing legacy.