When the chips were down and history beckoned, India’s own Jemimah Rodrigues delivered. In a stunning semi-final of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, she played an innings that will be etched in cricketing memory — calm under pressure, brilliantly paced, unforgettable in context.
The stage was huge
India faced defending champions Australia women’s cricket team in the semi-final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Australia batted first and piled up a massive total of 338 all out. Their innings featured a century by Phoebe Litchfield (119) and strong contributions from Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner.
Facing 339 to win, India were under immense pressure: historically, Australia have dominated and chasing anything near 300 in a women’s ODI is rarely straightforward.
The masterclass
Rodrigues took the challenge head-on.
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She finished 127 not out, anchoring the chase beautifully.
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Her knock included 14 fours, and she saw India through to the target with nine balls to spare.
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Alongside her, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur contributed a gritty 89 to build the foundation of the chase.
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At one point India were in jeopardy: early wickets, nervous moments. Then Rodrigues and Harmanpreet forged a 167-run partnership to swing momentum.
Why this innings matters
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This is now the highest successful run-chase in women’s ODI history. India chasing 339 to beat the champions.
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It crushed assumptions: that big totals are safe, that Australia are unbeatable in big matches. India rewrote the script.
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For Rodrigues personally: this is career-defining. She affirmed her status not just as a talented player, but a match-winner in the biggest of games.
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The way she handled pressure: Australia dropped her twice late in her innings, and those chances proved costly.
Moments that caught the eye
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The stoic way she kept rotating the strike and accelerated when needed.
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The positive intent: she didn’t just survive — she dominated.
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Fielding lapses by Australia helped, yes — but India still had to seize the moment, and Rodrigues did.
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After the match she spoke about faith and struggle: “When I couldn’t carry on, God and my teammates carried me.”
What it means for India & beyond
For India: This win sends a strong message. That they can chase big, they can beat the best, they can handle boundaries. The confidence boost is massive ahead of the final.
For women’s cricket: Big chases, dramatic victories, record-breaking sessions — these are the moments that elevate the sport, draw eyes, change narratives.
For Rodrigues: The innings elevates her beyond “promising” to “instrumental”. Her mental strength, skillset and temperament now stand fully exposed on the big stage.
Final thoughts
If you’re looking for the kind of innings that will be replayed in highlight reels for years, this is it. When the pressure was highest, she delivered. When the target seemed to loom too large, she ate it. This wasn’t just one of the best knocks of the tournament — it may well become one of the legendary knocks of women’s cricket.
For fans of all cricket: This is one to savour. It didn’t simply win a semi-final — it rewrote record books, changed momentum, and showcased the sheer potential of the Indian team.