Navi Mumbai, October 30, 2025 - Jemimah Rodrigues played an extraordinary innings, scoring an unbeaten 127 off 134 balls, to propel India into the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup final. India achieved a historic feat by defeating defending champions Australia in a thrilling semi-final, chasing down a record target of 339 with five wickets to spare.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat, posting a formidable total of 338 all out in 49.5 overs. Opener Phoebe Litchfield led the charge with a magnificent 119 off 93 balls, supported by Ellyse Perry's steady 77 off 88 deliveries. Ashleigh Gardner added late firepower with a rapid 63 off 45 balls. For India, Shree Charani was the most economical bowler, taking 2/49 in her 10 overs, while Deepti Sharma also picked up two wickets but proved expensive.
India's chase began shakily, with Shafali Verma falling early. Jemimah Rodrigues then partnered with Smriti Mandhana for a 46-run stand before Mandhana was dismissed for 24. Rodrigues then combined with captain Harmanpreet Kaur to form a crucial 167-run partnership for the third wicket. Kaur contributed a valuable 89 off 88 balls before being dismissed by Annabel Sutherland.
Rodrigues continued to anchor the innings, mixing controlled aggression with maturity. She was dropped on 82, a costly miss for Australia. Deepti Sharma (24) and Richa Ghosh (26) added quick runs to keep India on track. Rodrigues reached her century to a jubilant reception from the home crowd at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. She remained composed and guided India to victory with nine balls remaining.
Jemimah Rodrigues was named Player of the Match for her outstanding performance. Her innings marked a remarkable turnaround, considering her recent struggles with form. She had even been dropped for a match earlier in the tournament. Rodrigues's success has been attributed to her childhood dream and the guidance of her father, Ivan Rodrigues, who has been her coach since she was four years old.
India's journey to the final has been characterized by resilience and consistency. They finished fourth in the group stage, with wins over New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. India will now face South Africa in the final. This will be a historic match as both teams seek their first-ever World Cup title.
