In an unforgettable night of high-stakes drama, Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues delivered the performance of a lifetime in the Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-final against defending champions Australia. Her magnificent, unbeaten century powered India to a record-breaking chase, a victory so profound that the star batter broke down in tears of relief and sheer joy during the post-match presentation, revealing a deeply personal journey of struggle and faith that culminated in this moment of glory.
Jemimah Rodrigues’ knock that shattered records
At the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, India faced a mountainous target of 339, a total set by a formidable Australian side. With openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma dismissed cheaply, the pressure was immense. Stepping in at number three, Rodrigues forged a match-winning, 167-run partnership with captain Harmanpreet Kaur (89), stabilizing the innings before taking complete control.
Rodrigues anchored the entire chase with a composed, calculated, and ultimately glorious knock of 127 not out off 134 balls. This innings not only secured a sensational five-wicket victory with nine balls to spare but also etched India’s name in history, marking the highest successful run-chase ever in Women’s One-Day International cricket. The local Mumbai girl held her nerve through the tense final overs, guiding vital cameos from Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh before Amanjot Kaur hit the winning boundary, sending the packed stadium into delirium.
Emotional Rodrigues credits faith for strength after battling setbacks and World Cup exclusion
The raw emotion was palpable as Rodrigues, named Player of the Match, struggled to hold back tears during her interview. She spoke movingly about the personal toll the preceding months had taken on her, turning the spotlight from her performance to her mental and emotional battle.
“Firstly, I want to thank Jesus, because I couldn’t do this on my own. I know he carried me through today. It was really hard these last four months, but it just feels like a dream and it’s not sunk in yet,” an emotional Rodrigues stated in the post-match chat, attributing her strength to her faith.
The 25-year-old revealed the weight she had been carrying, especially after being dropped from the previous World Cup squad and enduring a challenging phase leading up to this tournament.
Rodrigues opens up about self-doubt, faith, and finding purpose beyond personal milestones
Rodrigues admitted to battling severe self-doubt and anxiety, sharing a vulnerable side rarely seen on such a colossal stage. However, she emphasized that the century was never about proving a point, but about answering a higher calling to win for her country, especially in crunch moments where India had often stumbled before. In the closing stages of the chase, exhausted and under extreme pressure, Rodrigues revealed she relied on her faith to push through.
“I’ve almost cried every day throughout this tour. I was not doing well mentally, going through a lot of anxiety. Then being dropped was another challenge for me. Today was not about my 50 or my 100. Today was about making India win… I just feel like God scripted everything at the right time and if you do things with the right intention, he always blesses. And I just feel everything has happened so far was just a set-up for this,” she added, highlighting her belief in a divine plan.
Here’s the video:
#JemimahRodrigues, take a bow! #CWC25 Final #INDvSA | SUN, 2nd Nov, 2 PM! pic.twitter.com/2Ov9ixC7Ai
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 30, 2025
The Indian team’s historic win ends Australia’s remarkable 16-match unbeaten run in the World Cup and propels India into their third-ever Women’s World Cup final. They are set to face South Africa at the same venue on Sunday, November 2, where they will look to clinch their maiden World Cup title. For Rodrigues, this monumental innings is not just a statistical milestone but a powerful testament to persistence, faith, and the ultimate triumph over personal adversity.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
