Jemimah Rodrigues, fighting internal battles she admits saw her “cry almost every day,” delivered a performance for the ages on Wednesday, smashing an unbeaten 127 to anchor India’s record-breaking chase against defending champions Australia and secure a spot in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final.
In a spectacular semi-final clash at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Rodrigues’ maiden World Cup century fueled India’s pursuit of a monumental 339-run target. The young batter combined with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (89) for a match-defining 167-run partnership, guiding the Women in Blue to a stunning five-wicket victory with nine balls to spare—the highest successful chase in Women’s ODI World Cup history.
The monumental effort comes as a profound moment of redemption for the Mumbai player, who was earlier dropped from the playing XI after a run of low scores. Speaking after the win, a visibly emotional Rodrigues opened up about the immense pressure she had been under throughout the tournament.
“I’ve cried almost every day through this tour. I wasn’t doing well mentally, going through anxiety,” Rodrigues confessed, tearfully thanking her support system. “It feels like a dream and it still hasn’t sunk in. Everything that happened so far was a setup for this.”
Rodrigues, who came in at a crucial No. 3 position, emphasized that the knock was purely for the team. “Today wasn’t about my fifty or my hundred, it was about making India win,” she stated, reflecting the dedication that saw her power through 134 deliveries, punctuated by 14 boundaries.
Her heroic century has not only silenced critics but also firmly established her as one of India’s most crucial players as they march on to contest the final on November 2nd.
