Deepti Sharma leads India to maiden Women's World Cup victory in historic final

Deepti Sharma played a pivotal role in India's historic maiden Women's ODI World Cup victory, delivering an exceptional all-round performance in the final against South Africa. She scored a crucial 58 runs to stabilize the innings during a critical phase and took five wickets for 39 runs, becoming the first cricketer—male or female—to score a fifty and take five wickets in a World Cup knockout match. Sharma's achievements included being the top wicket-taker in the tournament with 22 wickets and accumulating 215 runs, earning her the Player of the Tournament award. Her bowling spell, especially the dismissal of South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt, shifted momentum decisively in India's favor, leading to a 52-run victory. Throughout the tournament, Sharma also reached the unique milestone of scoring over 200 runs and taking 15 wickets, a feat unprecedented in Women's World Cup history. Her calm, composed presence and consistent contributions with both bat and ball were instrumental in India's triumphant campaign on home soil.