India vs South Africa, Women’s ODI World Cup Final: With the much-awaited Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 final between India and South Africa round the corner, all eyes have turned to the weather. With India aiming for their first title under Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership, eyes will be on the Navi Mumbai skies as much as on the players on the field.
India vs South Africa, Women’s ODI World Cup Final: Will Rain Play Spoilsport?
Some serious concerns over the smooth conduct of the final on Sunday have been raised as the weather forecast in Navi Mumbai does not appear to be promising. According to AccuWeather, the chances of rain on the day of the match are 63%, which is predicted between 4 PM and 7 PM-a prime play-time period.
A yellow alert has been issued for various parts of Maharashtra, including Navi Mumbai, that are expected to receive light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms. The DY Patil Stadium, which is set to host the grand finale, did witness a washout when India’s group-stage match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to heavy rain earlier in the tournament.
If the forecasts hold true, there is a real possibility it could interrupt even postpone the historic clash.
India vs South Africa, Women’s ODI World Cup Final: What Happens if Match is Washed Out?
Should rain make it impossible to play on Sunday, a reserve day has been scheduled for Monday, November 3. The respite, though, could be brief as forecasts indicate there is still a 55% chance of rain on the reserve day, too.
If the main day and the reserve day are washed out, under ICC rules, the trophy will be shared between both finalists, meaning that India and South Africa could be crowned joint champions.
While the DY Patil Stadium is an advanced facility with modern drainage systems, continuous rainfall could still cause significant delays to proceedings. The fans will be hoping for clear skies as India look to script history.
India vs South Africa, Women’s ODI World Cup Final: Jemimah Rodrigues Draws Kapil Dev Comparisons
Apart from the rain threat, a lot of the pre-final chatter has been about Jemimah Rodrigues, whose 127 off 134 in the semi-final against Australia stole the headlines. That innings, which led India to a record chase of 339, has been termed similar to Kapil Dev’s 175 against Zimbabwe* in the 1983 Men’s World Cup.
IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal termed Jemimah’s innings as “a replay of Kapil’s legendary knock.” “She replayed that inning which none of us got to see Kapil’s 175 but this time, the whole world witnessed it live,” he told ANI.
India vs South Africa, Women’s ODI World Cup Final: Can India Finally Lift The Trophy?
A stage has been set for a monumental fight-to-finish between two of the most consistent sides of this tournament. While India’s batting depth and composure under pressure have stood out, South Africa promises a fierce challenge on the backdrop of a high-quality pace attack and athletic fielding. With clouds hovering over Navi Mumbai, fans pray that the rain gods show some mercy and let India pursue their long-cherished dream of World Cup glory.
