Some stories in sport aren’t just about numbers or scoreboards. They are about human will — about finding light after standing in the dark for too long. On a humid October night at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Jemimah Rodrigues crafted such a story.
Her unbeaten 127 off 117 balls didn’t just take India into the Women’s World Cup 2025 final — it erased years of heartbreak, silenced critics, and turned anxiety into art. As 35,000 fans went from holding their breath to screaming their lungs out, Rodrigues delivered one of the greatest innings in the history of Indian cricket against the Australian team.
A Game That Began in Silence
When Rodrigues was on 82, she top-edged a slog-sweep off Alana King. The ball hung in the air long enough for Alyssa Healy and King to converge beneath it. For a few seconds, the crowd froze — silence cutting through the Navi Mumbai humidity.
This was the kind of silence Indian fans knew too well: a set batter, mid-chase, dismissed — momentum gone. But then came a twist of fate. Healy dropped it. The roar that followed wasn’t just noise; it was release. The stadium came alive, and so did Rodrigues.
Moments later, another heart-stopper: struck on the pads, Australia reviewed for LBW. Two reds, one green — ball sailing just over the stumps. Rodrigues exhaled. The roars grew louder. Her time had come.
A Redemption Arc Years in the Making
Jemimah Rodrigues’ journey to this night had been far from smooth.
Dropped from the 2022 World Cup for poor form, she had spent the next few years clawing her way back — technically gifted, emotionally raw, yet never losing her drive.
Even in this World Cup, she stumbled. Two ducks. A couple of 30s. Then the blow: she was dropped again mid-tournament for the England match. Head coach Amol Muzumdar later called it “one of the toughest calls of the campaign.”
Off the field, Rodrigues was unraveling. She spoke candidly about crying for days, about feeling “numb.” Yet even then, she was determined not to play for validation but for victory.
“When I came back, I didn’t want to prove a point. I just wanted to do things so my team wins,” she said after the match. “When I was dropped, things just got worse. But I kept telling myself — amazing things can still happen.”
The Rebirth Against New Zealand
Her return to the XI came against New Zealand — and it changed everything. Promoted to No. 3, Rodrigues struck 76 off 55 balls, rediscovering her rhythm. But even that was just a prelude to what awaited her against Australia — the defending champions, the most dominant team in women’s cricket.
When Smriti Mandhana fell early in the semi-final, India’s hopes seemed to flicker. Amanjot Kaur was listed next, but a late call changed everything — Rodrigues was promoted again.
“I got to know only five minutes before going in,” she revealed later. “I just told myself: you’ve waited for this, now go and make it count.”
The Greatest Chase in Women’s ODI History
At 22/1, India needed calm. Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s talisman, joined Rodrigues. What followed was pure magic.
The duo added 167 runs for the third wicket — a stand built on mutual trust and silent communication.
Rodrigues played the artist, finding gaps and running hard despite the suffocating humidity. Harmanpreet was the enforcer, piercing the field with power and intent.
Every boundary, every cheeky single, every roar from the crowd felt like a declaration: India was not afraid of the chase.
When Silence Returned — And Was Broken Again
At 240/2, when Harmanpreet fell for 89, cramped and exhausted, the stadium quieted again. The question loomed: would India collapse again as they did in the 2017 final or the England league-stage loss?
Not this time. Rodrigues steadied herself, almost whispering to the heavens — “I’ll score for her.”
Her calmness was striking. No wild slogs, no panic. Just smart placement, tireless running, and iron focus.
Finishing It Off
Her century came off 117 balls — a simple fist bump with Richa Ghosh marking the moment. No jump, no scream — the job wasn’t done yet.
By the time Amanjot Kaur struck the winning boundary, Rodrigues dropped to her knees, overwhelmed. The scoreboard read India 339/5, chasing down Australia’s 338 — the highest successful chase in women’s ODI history.
Litchfield Shines, But Not Enough
Australia’s total had been powered by a breathtaking 119 from Phoebe Litchfield, whose wrists and footwork dazzled. Alongside Ellyse Perry (77) and Ashleigh Gardner (63), the Australians looked destined for another final.
But cricket, like fate, can be cruelly poetic.
Litchfield’s dismissal — a mistimed lap that cannoned into her stumps — marked the beginning of cracks in the empire. From there, small errors piled up: misfields, dropped catches, overthrows, and Healy’s crucial dropped chance on Rodrigues.
Even Healy admitted later,
“We weren’t sharp enough in all three departments. We let ourselves down, and that’s un-Australian.”
The Pressure, the Dew, and the Implosion
The dew made fielding a nightmare. As the ball slipped and Australia’s fielders fumbled, Rodrigues’ precision only sharpened.
McGrath dropped another sitter when Rodrigues was on 106. That was the final break.
From there, every Indian stroke seemed to echo destiny. Rodrigues flicked, drove, and steered with surgical precision. When she finally embraced Amanjot Kaur after the winning hit, it wasn’t just victory — it was vindication.
“I Just Wanted to Wake Up Smiling” — Jemimah’s Words of Grace
In the post-match press conference, Rodrigues’ humility shone through her exhaustion.
“When I reached my fifty and then my hundred, I didn’t celebrate. I looked at our hotel nearby and told myself — what would make me happier tomorrow morning? Not the hundred, but India winning. That’s what I wanted to wake up to.”
Her words mirrored the grace of her game — grounded, selfless, yet burning with quiet fire.
This was not just an innings of skill. It was an act of healing — a message to every young cricketer battling self-doubt that comebacks are written in sweat and belief.
The Broader Legacy — India’s Moment, Women’s Cricket’s Leap
Rodrigues’ century and India’s chase will go down not just as a sporting record but as a cultural moment for women’s cricket in India. It echoed Harmanpreet’s 171* in the 2017 semi-final — the innings that started a revolution — and now, Rodrigues’ 127* may well mark its next chapter.
The Women’s World Cup 2025 Final now awaits — India vs South Africa — but regardless of the result, this night in Navi Mumbai will be remembered forever.
For Rodrigues, it was not just about silencing critics. It was about silencing the voice inside that said she wasn’t enough — and turning it into a roar that shook the world.
Australia Reflect and Rebuild
Defeated but not destroyed, captain Alyssa Healy remained reflective:
“It’s disappointing, but it’s also a learning curve. Pressure games show you where you can be better. We’ll regroup and come back stronger.”
For Australia, this loss mirrored their 2017 semi-final heartbreak — which ultimately shaped their 2022 World Cup triumph. Perhaps history is setting up another cycle of dominance — but for now, the world belongs to India.
Rodrigues Joins the Great Comeback Stories in Sport
From Femke Bol’s 2023 World Championship redemption to Rafael Nadal’s impossible 2022 Australian Open comeback, sport is filled with tales of resilience. Jemimah Rodrigues now stands among them — a player who fell, broke, rebuilt, and finally soared.
Her innings was more than a chase. It was a mirror of her journey — from silence to roars, from tears to triumph.
Final Scorecard Highlights
| Team | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Australia Women | 338 (49.5 overs) | Litchfield 119, Perry 77, Gardner 63 |
| India Women | 339/5 (48.5 overs) | Rodrigues 127*, Harmanpreet 89, Amanjot 22* |
| Result | India won by 5 wickets — highest chase in Women’s ODI history |
