Navi Mumbai: Jemimah Rodrigues produced the innings of her life to script one of the greatest moments in Indian women’s cricket history. Her unbeaten 127 off 115 balls carried India to a record-breaking chase of 339 runs against defending champions Australia at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai, booking their place in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 final.
It was a night of raw emotion, steely nerves, and unforgettable cricketing theatre. India chased down the mammoth total with nine balls and five wickets to spare — the highest successful chase ever in women’s ODI history — leaving the Australian camp stunned and the home crowd in raptures.
The victory means India will now face South Africa in the grand final on Sunday, with both sides aiming to lift their maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup trophy.
Litchfield’s brilliance sets the stage
Australia started the game like the champions they are, piling up a huge 338 all out. Phoebe Litchfield led the charge with a sublime century, scoring 119 off 86 balls. She punished anything loose, especially from the spinners, and looked unstoppable for most of her innings.
The Aussies were cruising at one point, thanks to a 155-run partnership between Litchfield and the seasoned Ellyse Perry (77 off 68). But after Litchfield was bowled by Amanjot Kaur while attempting a scoop, India clawed their way back.
Sree Charani and Deepti Sharma bowled cleverly to halt Australia’s momentum, each taking two wickets. Despite Ash Gardner’s late fireworks — a blistering 63 off 45 balls with four sixes — Australia lost their last few wickets quickly and were bowled out one ball short of their 50 overs.
At 338, it still looked like a match-winning total. Most teams would have buckled under the pressure. But this Indian side had other ideas.
A shaky start for India
India’s chase didn’t begin smoothly. Shafali Verma showed intent early on with a cracking boundary over cover, but her dismissal — lbw to Kim Garth the very next ball — brought an early hush to the stands.
Smriti Mandhana, who has been the tournament’s top scorer, couldn’t get going either. She nicked a faint edge behind for 24, leaving India struggling at 59 for 2.
It was then that Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur took charge. Calm, focused, and quietly determined, they built a partnership that would be remembered for generations.
Rodrigues and Kaur rebuild India’s innings
The partnership between Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur was pure class — steady, calculative, and executed with surgical precision.
Rodrigues took on the aggressor’s role, using deft touches and fearless drives to reach her half-century off 57 balls. Harmanpreet, on the other hand, was composed and tactical, rotating the strike and waiting for loose deliveries to capitalise.
By the 30th over, India had reached 189 for 2, bringing the equation down to 150 from 120 balls — still a daunting task, but the body language on the pitch told a different story. Rodrigues was dropped twice, once by Alyssa Healy, and each reprieve only made her more dangerous.
The duo’s 167-run partnership turned the game on its head. But when Harmanpreet (89 off 91 balls) miscued a shot to Gardner in the 36th over, the equation once again tilted — at least briefly — towards Australia.
Rodrigues stands tall amid tension
Even as wickets fell around her, Rodrigues held her nerve. She reached her third ODI century with a punch through covers, raising her arms in a rare moment of emotional release. Her knock wasn’t just about runs — it was about resilience, redemption, and sheer willpower.
Deepti Sharma (24) and Richa Ghosh (26 off 16) provided handy cameos, ensuring the asking rate never spiralled out of control. When Ghosh fell with 29 still needed, the tension was palpable.
But Rodrigues was unshakable. She found gaps, ran hard, and kept the scoreboard ticking with clinical precision. Amanjot Kaur’s calm presence at the other end ensured India didn’t falter under pressure.
With the crowd roaring every run, Amanjot sealed the victory with a boundary, sparking wild celebrations as India reached 341 for 5 in 48.3 overs.
Post-match emotions and reactions
The post-match scenes were filled with tears, hugs, and chants of “India! India!” echoing through the stadium.
Harmanpreet Kaur, visibly emotional, said: “I don’t have words to express myself. This is what we’ve been working towards for years. We always believed any player in this team could win a game from any position — and today proved that. Jemimah was outstanding. She held her nerve, took responsibility, and finished it off for us.”
The captain emphasised that the team had already turned its focus to the final. “We’ve started talking about the next game already. Playing a World Cup final at home means everything. We want to give it back to our fans — they’ve been with us every step of the way.”
Alyssa Healy, the Australian captain, admitted her side was outplayed: “We didn’t finish well with the bat, dropped chances, and didn’t execute with the ball. India played really well and held their nerve. It’s disappointing, but we’ll learn from this. Phoebe was brilliant — she’s the future of our cricket.”
Her comments hinted at a transition phase ahead for Australia, with Healy also confirming she wouldn’t be around for the next ODI World Cup cycle.
Rodrigues: The comeback story of the year
It wasn’t just a match-winning knock — it was the culmination of a personal journey. Speaking after being named Player of the Match, Jemimah Rodrigues broke down in tears as she reflected on her struggles. “I want to thank Jesus — I couldn’t have done this alone. It’s been a tough few months mentally. I was dropped last year, even when I was in good form. I’ve cried almost every day on this tour. But today, I just wanted to win it for India.”
She revealed that she only found out she would be batting at No. 3 moments before walking in. “I was literally in the shower when I was told I’m batting at three! But I told myself this wasn’t about me — it was about making India win.”
Her words resonated deeply with fans across the stadium and online. Social media was flooded with emotional messages, with one fan tweeting: “Tears in my eyes listening to Jemimah’s interview. Couldn’t be happier for her.”
Score Summary
Australia: 338 all out in 49.5 overs
(Phoebe Litchfield 119, Ellyse Perry 77, Ash Gardner 63; Sree Charani 2/49, Deepti Sharma 2/73)
India: 341/5 in 48.3 overs
(Jemimah Rodrigues 127*, Harmanpreet Kaur 89, Richa Ghosh 26; Kim Garth 2/46, Annabel Sutherland 2/69)
Result: India won by 5 wickets
