India hero Deepti Sharma described her team's 52-run victory over Australia in the Women's Cricket World Cup final as a "dream" in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. 

Sharma starred with both bat and ball as India stormed to their first ever title, becoming the fourth team in the history of the competition to lift the coveted trophy. 

A 104 opening-run stand from Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma set the tone for the Women In Blue, while Sharma, Richa Ghosh and Jemimah Rodrigues also chipped in with their knocks.

India's 298-7 was the second-highest total ever in a Women's Cricket World Cup final, behind Australia's 365-5 against England in 2022. 

No team batting second had ever gone past England's total of in that showpiece three years ago, and despite Laura Wolvaardt's century, that statistic remained the same. 

But it was Sharma who stole the show. Indeed, with figures of 5-39, she became only the second bowler after Anya Shrubsole (6-46 in 2017) to take a five-wicket haul in a Women's Cricket World Cup final. 

Along with her 58 runs from 58 deliveries, she is also the only player to ever record a 50+ score and take five wickets in a final, and Sharma could not contain her delight.

"Honestly, this still feels like a dream," she said. "We have not yet got rid of the emotions. I am so happy to contribute in a World Cup final. I feel really glad.

"We just wanted to take the positive takeaways from every match. I want to thank the fans, they have supported us in every match. This would not be possible without them. As a team, we feel great after this result.

"I just want to enjoy every department. I like challenges. I had the bat and ball in my hand. I just had to play according to the situation, and I enjoyed a lot.

"What better moment, on this stage, to perform as an all-rounder for the team. You can't get better than this."

5 & 58 - Deepti Sharma (5/39) has become only the 2nd bowler after Anya Shrubsole (6/46 vs India in 2017) to pick up a five-wicket haul in the Final of a women's @cricketworldcup; with 58 runs too, she’s the only player ever to record a 50+ score & 5-wkt haul in a Final. Heroic. pic.twitter.com/bOuMqneazY

— OptaJeev (@OptaJeev) November 2, 2025

But Verma, having earlier plundered a career-best 87 from 58 balls, also played her part with the ball in hand, taking the wickets of Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp. 

Verma had bowled just 14 overs for a single wicket in 30 ODIs coming into the match, but it took her just two balls to end Wolvaardt and Luus' 52-run stand. 

And India captain Harmanpreet Kaur had a gut feeling Verma would have her say in the match, which eventually came to fruition. 

"When Laura and Sune were batting, they were looking good, and I just saw Shafali standing there," the skipper said. "The way she was batting today, I knew today's her day.

"She was doing something special today, and I just thought I had to go with my gut feeling. If my heart is saying I should give at least one over to her, I'm going to give it to her.

"And then I just asked her: 'can you bowl one over?' And she was so ready, and she's always wanted to bowl for the team. I think that was a turning point for us."