India vs South Africa CWC 2025 final: Here’s how the dew factor can decide Women’s World Cup champion

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The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 final will see India clashing with South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, both chasing their maiden title.

India enters the final on the back of a historic run-chase against Australia, fueled by Jemimah Rodrigues’ century and Harmanpreet Kaur’s power hitting. South Africa, captained by the in-form Laura Wolvaardt, boast a balanced attack led by all-rounder Marizanne Kapp.

The second semi-final of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy on October 30th saw India secure a historic victory by chasing down Australia’s mammoth total of 338. The outcome was profoundly shaped by the Dew Factor which emerged under the lights in the evening. Australia’s decision to bat first after winning the toss proved to be a critical tactical error, as the heavy dew made the ball slick and difficult for their bowlers, particularly the spinners, to grip effectively.

This struggle led to a loss of control over line and length, which was reflected in the high number of 26 extras conceded (including 17 wides), gifting crucial runs to the chasing side. Conversely, the damp surface and slick ball created a batting advantage for the Indian chasers, notably Rodrigues (127 not out) and Harmanpreet (89), allowing the ball to skid onto the bat cleanly. The record-breaking chase of 339, the highest ever in Women’s ODI history, was thus enabled by the combination of a flat, high-scoring pitch and the overwhelming influence of the dew, which turned the second innings into a significantly favorable batting proposition.

The single most influential environmental factor in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Final will be the heavy dew that is expected to settle at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai during the second innings under the floodlights. The combination of high humidity and the venue’s coastal proximity in late October/early November guarantees a slick, wet outfield and a ball that is extremely difficult for bowlers to control as the match progresses into the evening. This phenomenon has proven to be a defining feature of night games at this venue throughout the tournament, heavily skewing the advantage towards the chasing side.

The primary impact is felt by the bowlers, particularly the spinners, who form the backbone of both India’s and South Africa’s middle-overs attack. Deepti Sharma (India) and Nonkululeko Mlaba (South Africa) will find it near impossible to grip the ball for turn, flight, and subtle variations, effectively turning the red-soil pitch into an unresponsive track. For seamers like Renuka Singh Thakur and Ayabonga Khaka, executing precise line and length, or bowling cutters and slower balls, becomes a major challenge. Conversely, the ball skids onto the bat more smoothly, making it easier for the batters in the second innings to time their shots and find the boundary on a generally flat surface with fast outfields. This stark difference in playing conditions between the two innings makes the Toss a critical moment, compelling the captain who wins it to choose to bowl first to leverage the better batting conditions later.

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The anticipated impact of the Dew Factor is summarized in the table below:

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.