Women’s World Cup Final 2025: Smriti Mandhana vs Marizanne Kapp, Kranti Gaud vs Tazmin Brits — Key Battles To Watch Out For

A new winner of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup will be crowned soon. Both teams have several match-winners. As India look to create history at home in Navi Mumbai, Laura Wolvaardt’s South Africa aim to go one step further and win their first ICC title. They want to end their streak of falling short in finals by defeating Harmanpreet Kaur’s team for the second time in this tournament.

Even though South Africa beat India in the league stage on October 9 in Vizag, India can still take confidence from their strong new-ball performance. They had reduced South Africa to 18/2 inside six overs and helped the spinners keep the Proteas down to 81/5.

Laura Wolvaardt watched from the non-striker’s end as Tazmin Brits (0), Sune Luus (5), Marizanne Kapp (20), and Anneke Bosch (1) got out early. But the South African captain found support in Chloe Tryon, adding 61 runs for a much-needed fightback that led to their eventual win.

Wolvaardt (470) is the top run-scorer of the tournament, while her opening partner Tazmin Brits has been inconsistent, failing to repeat her century performance against New Zealand in their second match.

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Kranti Gaud’s Stunning Catch Turns the Game

Brits may consider herself a little unlucky with her dismissal against India in the league stage, though young star Kranti Gaud would disagree. Gaud forced a half-chance that turned into a brilliant one-handed return catch.

There are also some questions for South Africa, as key pacer Renuka Singh Thakur didn’t play in that earlier match.

Mandhana vs Kapp: The Battle of Experience and Class

The most successful wicket-taker in Women’s World Cup history will take the new ball against the No.1-ranked ODI batter — a dream battle for fans at the stadium and millions watching at home.

Marizanne Kapp enters the final with confidence after breaking the tournament record for most wickets, previously held by Jhulan Goswami. Kapp’s 5/20 against England in the semi-final included three top-order wickets.

Smriti Mandhana, on the other hand, made a run-a-ball 24 against Australia in the semi-final. She has already scored two fifties and a century on India’s road to the final and has been dismissed in single digits only once — in the opener against Sri Lanka on September 30.

In ODIs, Mandhana and Kapp share mutual respect. Kapp has dismissed Mandhana only once in 116 balls, though the Indian opener’s strike rate against her is just 62.

Rodrigues and Deepti Eye Redemption

Jemimah Rodrigues, India’s 25-year-old middle-order star, has been the talk of world cricket since her unbeaten 127 against Australia in the semi-final. But repeating that success in the final will be a new challenge.

Rodrigues will aim to make amends after being dismissed for a duck against South Africa in the group stage. A lot has changed in three weeks — Rodrigues was dropped, recalled, and fought hard to prove herself again. She may face a tough test from left-arm spinners Chloe Tryon and Nonkululeko Mlaba, especially as Tryon dismissed her earlier in the tournament.

Deepti Sharma also has a golden chance to finish as the top wicket-taker of the tournament. However, she faces her toughest test yet in the World Cup final.

Deepti took the early wicket of Anneke Bosch in the previous meeting but later conceded 54 runs for just one wicket. She is currently tied with Australian seamer Annabel Sutherland for the most wickets in the tournament.

De Klerk’s Firepower Could Decide the Final

Nadine de Klerk’s unbeaten 84 off 54 balls against India remains one of the tournament’s standout knocks. Her 13-boundary blitz helped South Africa pull off a stunning comeback win over the hosts.

With high scores expected in Navi Mumbai, de Klerk’s aggressive batting will again be crucial. However, India will have done their homework this time.

Harmanpreet Kaur and her team know that if South Africa builds a stronger start than last time, de Klerk’s big hitting could become a serious threat.