NAVI MUMBAI, INDIA – The Indian women’s cricket team scripted one of its most memorable chapters in history on Thursday, defeating defending champions Australia by five wickets in a thrilling ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final at the DY Patil Stadium. Anchored by a phenomenal, unbeaten century from Jemimah Rodrigues, Team India successfully completed a record-breaking chase of 339 runs, securing their spot in the tournament final.
The monumental victory, which saw India pull off the highest-ever run chase in Women’s World Cup knockout history, was a moment of profound redemption for the squad, who have faced years of near-misses against the formidable Australian side.
Rodrigues and Kaur Lead the Charge
Chasing Australia’s imposing total of 338, built on a brilliant 119 from Phoebe Litchfield, India’s innings was spearheaded by the calm brilliance of Jemimah Rodrigues. Playing a knock she later described as a “gift of faith and patience,” Rodrigues anchored the innings with a majestic 127 not out.
The chase received crucial acceleration from Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, whose aggressive 89 off 88 deliveries shattered the momentum of the Australian bowling attack. Timely contributions from Deepti Sharma (24) and Richa Ghosh (26) ensured the required run rate remained manageable.
The tension broke in the 49th over when Amanjot Kaur struck the winning boundary, sealing the famous win.
Emotional Theatre on the Field
The victory immediately triggered an outpouring of unbridled emotion. As the stadium erupted, Jemimah Rodrigues sprinted down the pitch to embrace Amanjot Kaur. She was quickly joined by the rest of the team, with Smriti Mandhana leaping into the embrace of her best friend.
The dugout captured similar scenes of pure, emotional theatre. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur was visibly overcome, breaking down in tears of joy and relief as she shared hugs with the support staff. Rodrigues, the star of the night, acknowledged the roaring crowd with a flying kiss and folded hands, celebrating a victory that felt like fate rewarded.
Team India now advances to the final, where they will face South Africa on Sunday, carrying the unforgettable echoes of this historic night in Navi Mumbai.
