In one of the greatest nights in Indian women’s cricket history, Jemimah Rodrigues produced a breathtaking unbeaten century as India stunned defending champions Australia by five wickets to storm into the final of the Women’s World Cup 2025 at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
Few gave Harmanpreet Kaur’s side a chance before the semifinal against the seven-time champions, but the Indian women defied all odds to chase down a mammoth 339-run target, their highest successful run chase in World Cup history, with nine balls to spare.
Rodrigues Shines Under Pressure
Jemimah Rodrigues, just 25, showcased nerves of steel and remarkable composure to remain unbeaten on 127 off 134 balls, guiding India to a famous win that will go down as one of the finest knocks in women’s white-ball cricket.
Her innings was a blend of elegance and determination, featuring 15 boundaries and two sixes. Supported ably by captain Harmanpreet Kaur (89), the duo’s 167-run partnership for the third wicket laid the foundation for India’s dramatic victory.
Early Setback, Strong Comeback
Chasing 339, India lost openers Shafali Verma (10) and Smriti Mandhana (24) early, leaving the team under pressure at 47/2. But Rodrigues and Harmanpreet counterattacked brilliantly, mixing aggression with smart rotation of strike.
Harmanpreet, who looked set for a century, fell to Annabel Sutherland on 89, but by then, India had seized control. Late cameos from Deepti Sharma (24) and Richa Ghosh (26) ensured India stayed ahead in the chase.
The winning runs came from *Amanjot Kaur (15 off 8 balls)**, who smashed the ball past mid-wicket as celebrations erupted across the stadium.
Emotional Celebration and Star Reactions
As soon as the winning run was struck, Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur broke down in tears, overwhelmed by the magnitude of their achievement.
Cricket legends took to social media to laud India’s remarkable performance.
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Rohit Sharma wrote, “Well done Team India!” on Instagram.
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Sachin Tendulkar praised Jemimah and Harmanpreet for their “fearless batting under immense pressure.”
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Sourav Ganguly tweeted, “Incredible stuff from the girls… just outstanding! One more to go.”
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Gautam Gambhir echoed, “It ain’t over till it’s over! What a performance, girls.”
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Yuvraj Singh hailed Harmanpreet’s leadership and called Jemimah’s innings “the stuff of champions.”
Eyes on the Final
With this win, India have entered their third Women’s World Cup final — and their first since 2017. They will now face South Africa in the final at the Dr DY Patil Stadium on November 2.
The semifinal victory not only marks a turning point for Indian women’s cricket but also stands as a statement of belief, resilience, and rising dominance on the global stage.
