Navi Mumbai, October 31, 2025 - In a thrilling semi-final of the Women's ODI World Cup 2025, India defeated Australia in a record-breaking chase, securing their spot in the final against South Africa. The victory was largely due to an extraordinary 167-run partnership between Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur. After the match, Harmanpreet Kaur revealed details of their conversation during the crucial stand, highlighting the importance of their communication and understanding.
Chasing a formidable target of 339, India's innings began shakily, with early wickets threatening to derail their chances. However, the arrival of Jemimah Rodrigues at the crease changed the momentum. Together with Harmanpreet Kaur, she rebuilt the innings, displaying a blend of caution and aggression.
Harmanpreet revealed that the conversation between her and Jemimah was centered around maintaining composure and focusing on building a strong partnership. "We just kept reminding each other to stay calm and play each ball according to its merit," Harmanpreet stated. "We knew that if we could build a long partnership, we would be in a good position to chase down the target".
According to Harmanpreet, Jemimah's positive attitude was infectious and helped alleviate the pressure. "Jemimah kept saying, 'We can do this, di. Let's just keep rotating the strike and punishing the loose balls'," Harmanpreet disclosed. "Her confidence rubbed off on me, and it made it easier to focus on the task at hand".
The partnership wasn't without its tense moments. Jemimah survived two dropped catches, on 82 and 106, reprieves that proved costly for Australia. Harmanpreet said that during those moments, they made sure to calm each other's nerves and refocus on the game. "We just told each other to forget about the near misses and concentrate on the next ball," she explained.
The 167-run partnership was a record against Australia in Women's World Cups. Harmanpreet contributed a fiery 89 off 88 balls, while Jemimah remained unbeaten on 127, masterfully combining elegance and resilience. Their contrasting styles complemented each other perfectly, frustrating the Australian bowlers and fielders.
Despite losing Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma in the final overs, Jemimah remained composed, guiding India to victory with support from Richa Ghosh and Amanjot Kaur. As Amanjot struck the winning boundary, Jemimah was overcome with emotion, sinking to her knees in tears, while Harmanpreet celebrated the end of Australia's 15-match unbeaten World Cup streak.
India's successful chase of 339 is the highest in Women's ODI history, marking a historic moment for Indian cricket. Jemimah Rodrigues's unbeaten century was only the second by an Indian in a Women's ODI World Cup semi-final, joining Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored 171* against Australia in the 2017 semi-final.
Harmanpreet lauded Jemimah's performance, acknowledging her crucial role in the victory. "I am extremely proud of Jemimah," she said. "She played an exceptional innings and showed great maturity and composure under pressure. Her innings was the difference between the two sides".
With this historic win, India has not only secured a place in the World Cup final but has also broken Australia's dominance in the tournament. The final against South Africa promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams vying for their first-ever World Cup title.
