Jemimah Rodrigues, in a truly magic-filled evening at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, broke down in tears of joy as she sank into the arms of her parents after delivering a breathtaking, match-winning knock against Australia in the semi-final of the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup on Thursday.
The 25-year-old’s unbeaten 127 powered India to chase down 339—the highest successful run chase in women’s ODI history. From an early wobble in the innings, with India under pressure after a mixed group stage, Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur steadied the ship with a 167-run stand that turned the tide. Rodrigues’ 134-ball masterclass was laced with 14 boundaries and sheer resolve.
‘FEELS LIKE A DREAM’
The emotional moment marked the end of Australia’s 16-match unbeaten streak in World Cups and propelled India into the final for only the third time in their history after 2005 and 2017.
In the post-match interview, Rodrigues said, “Firstly I want to thank Jesus, because I couldn’t do this on my own. I know he carried me through today. I want to thank my mum, my dad, my coach and every single person who believed in me It was really hard these last four months, but it just feels like a dream and it hasn’t sunk in yet.”
JEMIMAH RISES FOR INDIA
Jemimah Rodrigues didn’t have the best start to her World Cup campaign, falling for ducks against Sri Lanka and South Africa. She was even dropped for the game against England in Indore, as India opted for a sixth bowling option. But her comeback against New Zealand, where she batted at No. 3, marked a turning point in her tournament.
She didn’t get a chance to bat against Bangladesh in Navi Mumbai, but brought her A-game to the semi-final against Australia, where she was named Player of the Match. Rodrigues has been in fine form throughout 2025, amassing 747 runs in 19 matches at an average of 53.35 and a strike rate of 107.32, including three centuries.
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