India and South Africa will contest the Women's World Cup 2025 final at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, on Sunday, November 2, at 3 PM IST. After India's stunning semi-final victory over Australia, captain Harmanpreet Kaur's team seeks redemption following their league-stage defeat to South Africa. The match will be telecast on Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar. Weather forecasts predict 25% rain probability, dropping to 20% until 8 PM, threatening interruptions. A reserve day on Monday, November 3, ensures match completion. If play is suspended after overs are reduced, it continues from that point on the reserve day. If no play occurs after interruption, the match restarts as a full 50-over contest on the reserve day. Both teams need minimum 20 overs each for a valid result. If both days are washed out, India and South Africa will be declared joint winners and share the trophy.

India's men's cricket team, currently in Australia for a T20I series, extended wishes to the Women in Blue ahead of their ICC Women's ODI World Cup final against South Africa in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav led messages saying "Last push, Jai Hind." India seeks their first ODI World Cup title after knocking out reigning champions Australia in the semi-finals, mirroring their 2017 campaign when they beat Australia but lost the final to England. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur's team rebounded from three consecutive group-stage losses to reach the summit clash. Rain threats loom over the match venue, with passing showers expected during the game.

India faces South Africa in Sunday's historic Women's Cricket World Cup final in Mumbai, with either nation winning their first title. India reached the final after Jemimah Rodrigues' epic semi-final century against reigning champions Australia left the team exhausted. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur's squad previously lost finals in 2005, 2017, and seeks redemption after years battling institutional misogyny the BCCI was the last major board offering women professional contracts and delayed the Women's Premier League until 2023. South Africa's Marizanne Kapp's ferocious bowling poses threats. India lost to South Africa in group stages when Nadine de Klerk scored 41 off 25 balls. A 35,000-strong Mumbai crowd will witness the match. Victory could bring India's women fame rivaling Kapil Dev's 1983 team.

India's women's cricket team faces South Africa in the ICC World Cup final Sunday at D.Y. Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, seeking redemption after heartbreaking 2017 ODI and 2020 T20 final defeats. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur's squad gained psychological advantage by defeating Australia in the semi-finals, powered by Jemimah Rodrigues' spectacular century. Everything favors India: home conditions, passionate crowds including 200 Bharat Army members, and momentum. However, India must manage favorites' pressure while South Africa can play freely as underdogs. The Proteas previously defeated India in the league phase. India's pace bowling remains vulnerable; spinners Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani must contain Laura Wolvaardt's batters. Special guests include Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Sunidhi Chauhan will perform during the innings break.

India's men's cricket team sent heartfelt messages to the Women's team ahead of their ICC Women's World Cup final against South Africa in Mumbai on November 2. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, currently in Australia for the T20I series, led the wishes: "Be fearless, don't be scared of making mistakes, you've already made the entire country proud." T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Sanju Samson, and Shubman Gill also contributed encouraging messages. India seeks their first ICC trophy after heartbreaks in 2017 and 2023. The team's stunning semi-final victory over Australia, featuring Jemimah Rodrigues' unbeaten 127 and Harmanpreet Kaur's 89, has ignited hopes for a historic win.

Cricket fans expressed outrage Friday after ICC Women's World Cup Final tickets were marked "Sold Out" on BookMyShow before any official sale announcement. The ticketing page reportedly switched from "Coming Soon" to "Sold Out" within minutes, prompting allegations of mismanagement and black marketing against BCCI and organizers. BookMyShow responded claiming tickets sold out due to "overwhelming response" but didn't specify when sales went live. An earlier "Exclusive Pre-Sale with Google Pay" ran October 22-24, followed by general sale October 24 at 7 PM IST, but no subsequent updates were issued. The India vs. South Africa final will be held at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. Neither BCCI nor BookMyShow has issued formal clarification.

Indian tennis legend Rohan Bopanna announced his retirement on Saturday, ending a celebrated 20-year professional career. The 45-year-old's final appearance was at the Paris Masters 1000 with Alexander Bublik, losing 5-7, 6-2, 10-8 to John Peers and James Tracy in Round of 32. The two-time Grand Slam champion won the 2017 French Open mixed doubles with Gabriela Dabrowski and achieved his crowning glory in 2024, capturing the Australian Open men's doubles title and reaching World No. 1 at age 43. Bopanna reached five Grand Slam finals throughout his career. In an emotional social media post, he thanked his family, coaches, and fans, vowing to help young Indian tennis dreamers pursue their ambitions. (PC: X)

The FIDE World Cup trophy was renamed the "Viswanathan Anand Trophy" during Friday's opening ceremony in Goa, honoring India's five-time World Champion. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, and FIDE chief Arkady Dvorkovich attended the unveiling. World Women Chess Cup holder Divya Deshmukh conducted the draw of lots, with odd numbers playing black pieces in round one. The $2 million prize money tournament features 206 players from 80 countries competing across eight knockout rounds of classical games. The FIDE World Cup 2025 will award three qualifying spots to the Candidates 2026, which serves as the gateway to the next World Championship match.

BCCI is escalating the Asia Cup trophy dispute at ICC's November 4 quarterly meeting, over a month after India's victory. Joint Secretary Devajit Saikia expressed frustration, confirming BCCI wrote to ACC chairman ten days ago without response. He hopes the trophy reaches Mumbai within two days, warning formal ICC escalation otherwise. The controversy began after India's September 28 final victory when they refused accepting the trophy from ACC president Mohsin Naqvi, also Pakistan's interior minister and PCB chairman. The trophy was removed from the presentation stage, leaving India celebrating without silverware. Naqvi demands India send a representative to receive it from him. Saikia assured fans: "The trophy will come back to India." (PC: NDTV Sports & X)

Jemimah Rodrigues became a national hero after her unbeaten 127 led India to victory over Australia and into the Women’s ODI World Cup final. The 24-year-old star’s stunning innings came just a year after she faced a major setback when her gymkhana membership was revoked over a religious controversy involving her father. Jemimah said she battled anxiety and mental struggles before her comeback. “I have almost cried every day through this tour. God took care of everything,” she said after being named Player of the Match. India will face the winner of the second semifinal in Sunday’s final. (PC: X)