Rohit Sharma, who knows the feeling to play in a final in front of a jam-packed home crowd, was in attendance for the final of the Women’s World Cup where India locked horns with South Africa to crown a new champion. The cameras caught the former India skipper in the stands, alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Nita Ambani and Jay Shah, cheering on the Women in Blue.
Last month, Rohit was in Australia, playing for India in a 3-match ODI series which the visitors lost lost 2-1. Rohit scored a half century in the second match and then a century in the third match, helping India notch up a win at Sydney.
In the match, Shafali Verma’s robust 87 was followed by combative knocks from Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh before South Africa rallied to limit India to an under-par 298/7. Deepti’s run-a-ball 58 with three fours and a six and Richa (34 off 24 balls, 3x4s, 2x6s) provided the much-needed late impetus with a 47-run partnership for the sixth wicket after India’s innings faltered in the middle overs with Jemimah Rodrigues (24) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (20) failing to convert their starts.
मुंबईचा राजा is in the house to cheer for #WomenInBlue! 💙#CWC25 Final 👉 #INDvSA, LIVE NOW ➡ https://t.co/gGh9yFhTix pic.twitter.com/056SOzoav6
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 2, 2025
A plucky South Africa seemed to have spoiled India’s aim of a big first-innings total with regular strikes, aided by a pitch which slowed down and provided grip to the spinners as the contest progressed following a two-hour rain delay to the start of the match.
Shafali showed great maturity with a knock that featured both aggression and deft rotation of strike. The right-hander used all her experience to lay the platform for India, putting up an opening stand of 104 runs with Smriti Mandhana (45), which sent South Africa scrambling for answers early on.
Khaka, who had began by giving away 29 runs in three overs, completed a fine comeback when she got Shafali after a set of deliveries with varied length. She put one for the India opener to loft in the air and Sune Luus took a regulation grab at mid-off. Shafali was earlier dropped by Anneke Bosch in the 21st over off Luus but the India opener missed out on a ton.
(With agency inputs)
