Rodrigues made 127* as she led India to win over Australia in 2nd semi-final of Women's World Cup.
India Women defeated Australia Women in the second semi-final of the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. The match was played at the DY Patil Stadium on October 30, 2025.
Australia won the toss, and Phoebe Litchfield scored 119 in 93 balls, including 17 fours and three sixes. She received excellent support from Ellyse Perry, who scored 77 in 88 balls, and Ashleigh Gardner, who scored 63 in 45 balls with three fours and three sixes to help Australia reach 338 runs.
For India, Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma each grabbed two wickets.
In response, India was in difficulty, with Shafali Verma (10) and Smriti Mandhana (24) still in the hut. Then skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues combined to score 167 runs for the third wicket.
Harmanpreet scored 89 in 88 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes, while Rodrigues appeared determined to hold on at the other end. Deepti Sharma scored 24 in 17 balls, while Richa Ghosh scored 26 in 16 balls.
However, Australia clawed their way back in with wickets, but Jemimah Rodrigues stayed unbeaten at 127 in 134 balls with 14 fours, while Amanjot Kaur hit 15* in 8 balls to help India cross the finish line with 5 wickets in hand. India’s chase of 338 runs was the highest-ever in a Women’s ODI and in a World Cup knockout match, men’s or women’s.
Jemimah received the Player of the Match for her brilliant knock, and she was extremely emotional, crying throughout her speech.
“Firstly, I want to thank Jesus, because I couldn't do this on my own. I know he carried me through today. I want to thank my mom, my dad, my coach, and every single person who just believed in me throughout this time. It was really hard these last four months, but it just feels like a dream, and it's not sunk in yet. (When she got to know she was going to bat 3) I actually did not bat at three. I was still at five while taking a shower.
And when the discussion was happening, I just told them, Let me know. So just before entering, I got to know I'm batting at three. But I didn't think about myself. It was not for me to prove a point. It was just for me to win this match for India because we've always lost in certain situations. And I just wanted to be there to be able to take us through,” Rodrigues said at the post-match presentation.
“Today was not about my 50 or my 100. Today was about making India win. I know I got a few chances, but I just feel like God has given everything at the right time, and he grew it into the right intention, pure intention. And I just feel everything has happened so far just to set up for this. You make your own luck,” she said on her non-celebration on reaching her hundred.
She spoke about her faith in God and how she made it through tumultuous times when she was dropped from the Indian team, only to be included in later stages before the World Cup.
“Firstly, last year I was dropped from this World Cup. This year I came, and I thought, okay, I'll try it. I was in good form; let's take it further. But things back-to-back just kept happening, and I couldn't control anything. I had such amazing people around me who believed in me. 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 rather a challenge for me. But I think all I had to do was show up, and God just took care of everything.I think initially I was just trying to stay focused; I just kept talking to myself. But towards the end, I was just quoting one scripture from the Bible. Because I had lost energy, I was very tired. I was doing one scripture that said, "Just stand still, and God will fight for you." And I just stood there, and he fought for me,” Jemimah said.
Rodrigues also spoke about her shedding tears after the match was won.
“I think I had nothing left in me. It was really hard, but I just tried to stay calm till the ball finished. And at the end, just seeing that India won my final game, I think I couldn't stop myself,” she stated.
She also credited her teammates who batted with her for keeping her going despite the tiredness and fatigue creeping in.
“So, when Harman came, all we spoke about was one partnership. We just said runs are coming. But towards the end, actually, if you want to see that, I was not able to; I was trying to push myself, but I was not able to do it. Richa keeps speaking to me. Deepti, everyone was speaking to me and encouraging me. Then Amanjot started lifting me up. So, you know, I am so blessed that I have, when I cannot carry on, my teammates encourage me to carry on. I can't take credit for any of this. I know I have done nothing,” Rodrigues signed off.