India Script History: Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur Power India to Final After Thrilling Win Over Australia
In one of the most memorable encounters of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, India’s women’s cricket team stunned the mighty Australian side with a composed yet dominant performance. Powered by Jemimah Rodrigues’ unbeaten century and captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s fiery knock, India chased down a mammoth total of 338 to register a thrilling five-wicket victory, booking their spot in the World Cup final.
Australia Set a Giant Target
Australia Women, known for their fearless batting and championship temperament, opted to bat first — and their top order responded brilliantly. Phoebe Litchfield anchored the innings with a sensational 119 off 93 balls, decorated with 17 fours and 3 sixes. Her confident stroke play set the tone, as she built crucial partnerships with Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney.
Perry continued her golden run with the bat, smashing 77 off 88 deliveries, maintaining Australia’s momentum even as wickets fell at intervals. Mooney (24 off 22) and Ashleigh Gardner (63 off 45) provided the finishing touches, pushing the total to a commanding 338 runs in 49.5 overs.
Despite the high total, Indian bowlers showed grit. Renuka Singh was the most economical, conceding just 39 runs in 8 overs, while Nallapureddy Charani (2/49) and Deepti Sharma (2/73) chipped in with vital breakthroughs. Radha Yadav dismissed Perry, and some sharp fielding led to three crucial run-outs — including Gardner and Garth — which limited Australia from crossing 350.
India’s Calm and Calculated Chase
Chasing 339 in a knockout semi-final is never easy, especially against the defending champions. However, India’s innings began with intent. Shafali Verma got things going quickly with a 10-run cameo off 5 balls, hitting two boundaries before falling early to Kim Garth. Smriti Mandhana then stabilized the innings with a steady 24 off 24 balls, keeping the scoreboard moving before being caught behind.
At 59/2, the pressure was on. That’s when Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur took charge. Their partnership became the turning point of the match — a blend of composure, aggression, and tactical brilliance. Rodrigues, showing maturity beyond her years, paced her innings perfectly. She remained unbeaten with a spectacular 127 off 134 balls, anchoring the chase with precision.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, known for her ability to rise in big moments, smashed a commanding 89 off 88 balls, striking boundaries at will and keeping the required rate under control. Together, they added over 160 runs, breaking the backbone of Australia’s bowling attack.
Late Flourish and Composed Finish
After Harmanpreet’s dismissal, India needed around 100 runs with ample overs left. Deepti Sharma (24 off 17) and Richa Ghosh (26 off 16) provided aggressive cameos, ensuring India stayed ahead of the rate. In the end, Amanjot Kaur (15 off 8) joined Jemimah to finish things off in style, as India reached 341/5 in 48.3 overs.
Kim Garth and Annabel Sutherland picked up two wickets each for Australia, but their efforts were not enough to stop the Indian momentum.
Score Summary
Australia Women – 338 all out (49.5 overs)
Phoebe Litchfield – 119 (93)
Ellyse Perry – 77 (88)
Ashleigh Gardner – 63 (45)
N. Charani – 2/49
D. Sharma – 2/73
India Women – 341/5 (48.3 overs)
Jemimah Rodrigues – 127* (134)
Harmanpreet Kaur – 89 (88)
Smriti Mandhana – 24 (24)
Deepti Sharma – 24 (17)
Richa Ghosh – 26 (16)
Kim Garth – 2/46
A. Sutherland – 2/69
Result: India won by 5 wickets (with 9 balls remaining).
A New Dawn for Indian Women’s Cricket
This victory wasn’t just about reaching the final — it was about self-belief. India chased one of the biggest totals ever in women’s World Cup knockout history, defeating a side that has dominated world cricket for over a decade. Jemimah Rodrigues’ innings will be remembered as one of the greatest match-winning knocks in Indian women’s cricket, while Harmanpreet’s leadership once again proved invaluable.
The team’s unity, balanced aggression, and calmness under pressure have now made them serious contenders for the title. As India marches into the final with confidence and momentum, fans across the country are already dreaming of a historic World Cup triumph.
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