Mumbai, India – Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar joined millions across India in celebrating the women's cricket team's historic victory in the ICC Women's World Cup 2025 final against South Africa. India defeated South Africa by 52 runs at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, claiming their first-ever World Cup crown.
Kumar, who has been a vocal supporter of women's cricket, expressed his pride and joy over the team's achievement. Taking to social media, he shared a picture of the victorious squad with the caption, "So proud of our unstoppable women in blue".
The nation erupted in celebration as Harmanpreet Kaur's team secured the title, marking a watershed moment for women's cricket in India. This victory holds immense significance as it's the first time the Indian women's team has lifted the World Cup trophy. The Women in Blue ended a 52-year-long wait for the trophy.
Shafali Verma, who was named Player of the Match, and Deepti Sharma were instrumental in India's triumph. Verma scored a scintillating 87 runs off 78 balls and took 2 wickets, while Sharma bagged 5 wickets for 39 runs. Deepti Sharma was also named Player of the Tournament.
India posted a total of 298/7 in 50 overs, setting a challenging target for South Africa. In response, South Africa fought hard but were eventually bowled out for 246 in 45.3 overs.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a reward of ₹51 crore for the team and support staff. In addition, the victorious Indian team was given prize money of around ₹37.3 crore, which indicates a 239 per cent growth over the last time. The total prize purse for the 2025 edition stood at USD 13.88 million (₹123 crore), a staggering 297% increase from the previous tournament.
The historic win has been lauded by political leaders, celebrities, and fans alike. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team on their remarkable victory. Other Bollywood stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Anushka Sharma, Priyanka Chopra, Ajay Devgn, and Hrithik Roshan, also shared their excitement and appreciation for the team's achievement.
Many celebrities drew comparisons to the men's 1983 World Cup victory, highlighting the significance of this win for women's cricket in India. Sachin Tendulkar stated Sunday's win was "a defining moment in the journey of Indian women's cricket".
This victory is expected to inspire a new generation of girls to take up the sport and further elevate women's cricket in India and globally.
