Deepti & Shafali World Cup Glory. The wait is finally over. The new world cricket queens are India. On a hot night at Navi Mumbai, Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma drove India to the maiden world cup, writing a 52-run conquest over south Africa in a final match that will be recollected as being drama-filled, gritty and entirely brilliant.

A historic night of Indian women Cricket.

Over the years, the Indian female cricketing has been a question of close-call moments, bouts of disappointment and even silver trophies. But on Sunday it all changed. India performed in front of a raging home crowd which showed how they had grown into no longer being considered as underdogs but as undisputed champions.

The scene was set at Navi Mumbai DY Patil Stadium and the atmosphere was filled with suspense. India started first, and scoring 298/7, they had a fearless 87 by Shafali Verma and a level headed 58 by Deepti Sharma. India bowlers (led by Deepti once again) saw to it that the cup remained at home despite a valiant century by the Laura Wolvaardt of South Africa.

Every world cup victory has its defining moment The 87 which Shafali Verma scored off 78 balls was such a moment. The young opening player fired with usual daring and disintegrated the pace attack of South Africa with drives, cuts and flicks which were the new definition of controlled aggression.

Shafali gave India a flying start of 58 runs in the first eight overs (Smriti Mandhana 45). Her pace was bold and her time was heavenly. It was not about boundaries but the intent that created the tone. Shafali continued to keep the scoreboard running long before he became tired after Mandhana was sacked. Her wicket was likely to stop the momentum of India, yet by the time she had done this, she had prepared the groundwork to a formidable total.

Shafali got an 87 which was not only to himself but to a new generation of fearless cricketers in India who have made the game their own.Provided that Shafali was the supplier of the fireworks, Deepti Sharma was the supplier of balance bat and ball. A performance that was masterful in composure and control was her all-round performance.

India lost quick wickets and it was Deepti who soothed the innings with her composed 58. She swiveled and selected opportunities and formed key alliances. Her sense of the pitch at which here and there the ball had stalled were crucial. But with the ball her true magic played.

South Africa was broken back by Deepti who bowled 5 39. She rolled with a cunning bragg and dropped and dodged, mocked batters with her innuendos. As the poorly timed shot of Laura Wolvaardt flew up into the night in Navi Mumbai and landed in the safe hands of Amanjot Kaur, it seemed like fate talking. The world cup in India was actually a possibility.

Her rejection of Chloe Tryon shortly thereafter closed the deal Deepti Sharma, in addition to being its star, had orchestrated the victory of India.

Laura Wolvaardt of South Africa is greatly indebted to credit. The captain, who had preceded her semi final century with another beautiful century 101 on 98 balls, was on the front both gracefully and willingly. Wolvaardt managed to fight back every time he appeared to be being choked by India.

Her strokeplay which reduced the drives off midwicket to holies her flicks over the cover to twenties was a reminder that she is one of the best in the women game. However, with her demise, South Africa was ruined.

Although Nadine de Klerk and Annerie Dercksen attempted to make the game interesting Deepti accurate shooting and Shafali unexpected attacks pushed the matches too far in the favor of India.

It was not just skill it was nerve that was at stake at the final. The 298 that India had was not so bad but one that could not be conquered based on the fact that South Africa was deep. The pitch had tricks, however, the ball would stop short, cling, and at times be very naughty.

The bowlers in India were perfectly adapted. Renuka Singh flung the new ball Shree Charani was holding tight and Radha Yadav was handling the middle overs. With Tanzmati Brits in the sighting line of Amanjot Kaur the crowd went wild, and India played with the same purpose as they had planned.

Then followed the golden arm of Shafali. Her twin blows Luus and Kapp in turn gave India the lead. Her half disbelief and half joy at her celebration were the sum of the night in India–whatever they touched turned golden.

The tears gushed on, off the stands to the dugout.

It was not just a win but the start of a new chapter of suffering of years of heartbreak since 2017 with the almost-win and the following T20 final defeat in 2020. India had finally arrived. It was dubbed as a win by every girl who had ever dreamt of holding a bat in her hand, by Captain Harmanpreet Kaur. And truly, it was.

The Deepti Shafali world cup final will remain a milestone in the progress of the women game of cricket. It was not about winning a piece of decoration but it was a re writing of a story. Women in India no longer play the nearly there game, but they are heroes.

The potential became history through the poise of Deepti, the power of Shafali and the belief that the rest of the people in the team had. By the time that the confetti was scattered and the tricolor was flying on the high, one thing was certain this is only the beginning.

The future of female cricket seems bright, daunting and lovely Indian.

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