The DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai will hum with anticipation on Sunday night. The sea breeze, the floodlights and the full stands are ready for a contest that could define a new era in women’s cricket. India and South Africa have travelled very different paths to reach the World Cup final, but both arrive with the same intent: to end years of heartbreak and claim a long-awaited maiden title.
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For India, this has been a campaign built on control and calmness. They have trusted their leaders, relied on the experience of Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, and found new energy in a young group that has shown maturity beyond its years. South Africa’s journey has been just as convincing, built on the reliability of Laura Wolvaardt and the all-round brilliance of Marizanne Kapp, whose consistency has carried them through tight finishes.
There is very little to separate the two sides. India’s familiarity with home conditions might offer a small advantage, but South Africa have already shown they can handle the heat and the spin, having beaten India earlier in Visakhapatnam. Both teams are battle-hardened, and both know that a single moment can shift the course of a final.
Every World Cup decider comes down
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