Deepti Sharma on her 5 for 39 vs South Africa, the women's ODI bowling performance of the year
The India spinner's five-for in the 2025 Women's World Cup was voted the women's ODI bowling performance of the year
In a home World Cup campaign where India Women had a few stutters at the start, Deepti made vital contributions with bat and ball. She saved her best for the final.
After her run-a-ball 58 lifted India to a competitive 298, Deepti broke the back of South Africa's lower order with a five-for that gave India their long-awaited first World Cup trophy.
On a pitch that had become skiddy due to rain before the game, Deepti used a mix of flight and darts to deceive South Africa's batters. She tempted Sinalo Jafta into a poorly connected slog, and bowled Annerie Dercksen with a scrambled-seam yorker before bagging the prize wicket of Laura Wolvaardt, which proved to be the biggest blow in the chase.
Deepti reduced South Africa from 148 for 4 to 221 for 8 and fittingly took the last wicket when an airborne Harmanpreet Kaur caught Nadine de Klerk at extra cover to start the party that didn't stop until the sun came out the next morning.
Key moment
With centuries in both the semi-final and final, Wolvaardt was the one standing firm between India and the title. When South Africa needed 79 from 54 balls, she tried to dispatch Deepti over the wide long-on boundary. Three fielders converged under it before Amanjot Kaur made three juggling attempts and, in the end, gave Deepti her third wicket and India their biggest breakthrough of the night.
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The numbers
1 Deepti became the first woman to score 200-plus runs and take over 20 wickets in an ODI tournament.
39 Her ODI wicket tally in 2025, the best for her in any calendar year. In terms of batting average (49.66) and strike rate (98.18 as well), 2025 was Deepti's best year in ODIs (among years where she played at least five innings).
What they said
"The way she [Harmanpreet Kaur] took the catch and started celebrating around the ground, it was like her Kapil Dev moment [Kapil's catch in the 1983 World Cup final to dismiss Viv Richards]. Taking the last wicket is something I'll remember forever."
- Deepti Sharma on the wicket that sealed the World Cup win
- Deepti Sharma on the wicket that sealed the World Cup win
The closest contender
Marizanne Kapp
5 for 20 vs England, World Cup semi-final, Guwahati
In one of the most memorable bowling performances in a World Cup knockout, Kapp reduced England to 0 for 2 right away in the chase. With an inducker to Amy Jones and an outswinger to Heather Knight, she rattled the stumps twice in the space of four balls in the first over. In her second spell, she took three wickets in seven balls and got her five-for inside seven overs.
5 for 20 vs England, World Cup semi-final, Guwahati
In one of the most memorable bowling performances in a World Cup knockout, Kapp reduced England to 0 for 2 right away in the chase. With an inducker to Amy Jones and an outswinger to Heather Knight, she rattled the stumps twice in the space of four balls in the first over. In her second spell, she took three wickets in seven balls and got her five-for inside seven overs.