India held their nerve under the weight of immense expectation to beat South Africa by 52 runs and clinch their first-ever Women's World Cup. The roar at Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium said it all - history had finally caught up with promise. It's been a campaign of redemption and resilience. From three straight defeats in the group stage to a flawless knockout run, India's turnaround was as dramatic as it was defining. For a cricket-mad nation long waiting for its women to stand shoulder to shoulder with its men, this triumph felt epochal - the spark of a new era. Here are the five moments that shaped India's road to glory.

It was an unexpected move that stunned everyone. Shafali Verma - playing only because regular opener Pratika Rawal was injured - is a part-time spinner in the Virender Sehwag mould. Yet she struck gold, removing Sune Luus with her second ball and Marizanne Kapp with her seventh, halting South Africa's chase in its tracks. After the match, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said she'd gone with her gut - "it felt like her day." Having earlier smashed 87, Verma fittingly took home the Player of the Match award.

South Africa's opener and captain Laura Wolvaardt had been the pre-eminent batter in the tournament, not only leading the run-scorer's list, but also slamming a century in the semi-final to knock out England. In the final, she threatened to do the same against India with another magnificent century. With 78 needed, Wolvaardt went for broke - but her lofted hit off Deepti Sharma was skied to long-on. Amanjot Kaur, the 25-year-old daughter of a carpenter from Punjab, sprinted in, juggled thrice, and finally clung on in a tumbling catch that sent the stadium - and India - roaring. Wolvaardt stood between India and victory. Amanjot had held her nerve, and the catch for dear life. The path to victory had been cleared.

On a dewy night, Jemimah Rodrigues powered India to one of the greatest chases in women's cricket to reach the World Cup final. Her unbeaten 127 in the semi-final against Australia was the very definition of a tour de force. Promoted to No 3, Jemimah played the innings of a lifetime, steering India past a record target against their long-time nemesis - the Australians who had thwarted India's ICC dreams for over a decade. Her innings was a masterclass in building a match-winning knock under pressure. Walking in after two early wickets - including the prolific mainstay Smriti Mandhana - she steadied the innings with superb technique, sharp match awareness, and bursts of flair. Her 167-run stand with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur became the bedrock of India's record run chase. The most compelling aspect of Jemimah's amazing innings was the mental and emotional setbacks she had to overcome before and during the tournament, including being dropped for a match. She finished the match in tears of redemption and everlasting glory. Jemimah's innings helped India hunt down a record 338 in a pulsating edge-of-the-seat finish - winning by five wickets with five balls to spare.

A touch below her best with the bat - though her crucial 89 against Australia powered India into the final - Harmanpreet's true impact lay in her leadership. Composed, tactical, and fearless, she was the steady hand that guided India through the pressure of knockout cricket. Under intense scrutiny after three straight defeats mid-tournament, Harmanpreet rallied her team with calm authority - regrouping swiftly and brilliantly through a series of bold, inspired calls. Bringing Jemimah back into the XI - a move widely criticised at the time - was vindication enough. But promoting her to No 3 was the masterstroke that transformed India's campaign. A fluent half-century against New Zealand, a rousing century in the semi-final against Australia, and a vital knock in the final cemented Jemimah's role as the pivot around which India's batting thrived. Backing Shafali Verma to bowl in a tense final was an inspired call - a gamble, perhaps, but one that paid off handsomely. Through the pressure of the semi-final and final, Harmanpreet's composure never wavered. Unflustered and astute, she held the team together with smart, timely decisions.

Deepti Sharma ended the tournament as its leading wicket-taker - a feat remarkable in itself, yet only half the story of her impact. Her crucial runs in the knockout matches were just as vital, making her one of the true architects of India's title triumph. Against Australia, Deepti turned the game twice over - first with a double strike in a tense closing spell that likely saved 15–20 runs, then with a spirited, attacking 24 that kept India's pulsating chase on track. In the final against South Africa, Deepti went one better - a run-a-ball 58 that powered India past 250, followed by a stunning 5 for 39. It was one of the finest all-round performances in World Cup history - men's or women's.