Navi Mumbai : As India and South Africa prepare to contest the ICC Women’s World Cup final at Dr DY Patil Stadium on Sunday, meteorologists warn of a 25-50 per cent chance of afternoon and evening showers that could interrupt play. With temperatures forecast to peak at 34°C and high humidity, intermittent rain remains the biggest wildcard in a match both teams enter unbeaten in pursuit of their first global title.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has built multiple safeguards into the schedule to ensure a decisive outcome. A full reserve day—Monday, November 3—stands ready. Should rain halt Sunday’s proceedings, the contest will resume from the exact point of interruption, preserving ball-by-ball continuity.
Officials will first attempt to deliver a result on the scheduled day by shortening the game. ICC regulations require each side to face a minimum of 20 overs for the match to yield a winner via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. Any reduction in overs applied on Sunday will carry forward to the reserve day.
If both days are completely washed out, the ultimate fallback is unprecedented: India and South Africa will be declared joint champions, sharing the trophy for the first time in the tournament’s 48-year history.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, fresh from masterminding a semi-final upset over seven-time winners Australia, acknowledged the looming threat but kept focus on the contest. South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt, meanwhile, leads a side riding a wave of momentum after topping the group stage.
A sell-out crowd is expected to pack the 37,000-seat venue, with millions more tuned in across the globe. Ground staff have upgraded drainage systems and covers, yet the forecast leaves little margin for error.
For two proud cricketing nations on the cusp of history, the next 48 hours will test not only skill and nerve but also the patience to wait out the Mumbai monsoon. Whatever the skies deliver, the ICC’s contingency framework guarantees the 2025 Women’s World Cup will crown a champion—alone or together.