South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt believes India may feel the weight of expectations from a packed house at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai when the teams meet on Sunday, November 2, in the Women’s World Cup 2025 final.
Speaking ahead of the big game, Wolvaardt mentioned that the enthusiastic home support — expected to fill the stadium — could create nerves in the Indian camp. She also acknowledged that the situation might work to South Africa’s advantage if it can apply early pressure.
“𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒅-𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒖𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒅 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒂, 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒈𝒆,” 𝑾𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒂𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅. “𝑯𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒖𝒓.”
The Proteas skipper was quick to recognize India’s strength and quality, noting that her team must deliver a top-notch performance to overcome the hosts.
Focus on the Process, Not the Trophy — Wolvaardt
Reflecting on her approach to high-stakes games, the South African opener said she has learned not to get carried away by the big occasion. She believes staying calm and present will be vital for her side in the final.
“𝑰𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒚,” 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒅. “𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒅.”
South Africa finished the group stage with 10 points from seven matches, sealing third place. Their dominant semi-final win against England — by a massive 125 runs — earned them a spot in the title clash.
Wolvaardt was the standout performer in that semi-final, smashing a breathtaking 169 from 143 balls to push South Africa to 319/7. Marizanne Kapp then delivered a brilliant spell of 5/20 as England crumbled to 194 all out in 42.3 overs.
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