Gatam to Rodrigues character NEW DELHI: In a performance that immediately drew parallels with current India men’s cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir’s iconic knock from the 2011 World Cup final, Jemimah Rodrigues produced an innings of sheer grit and brilliance to guide India into the ICC Women’s World Cup final in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Wearing the same number 5 jersey and the same number three jersey, Jemimah anchored India’s record run chase with an unbeaten 127 off 134 balls – an effort that revived memories of Gambhir’s 97 against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede fourteen years ago. Back then, Gambhir’s innings formed the backbone of India’s chase of 275 in the men’s final; on Thursday, Jemimah’s master class took India past Australia’s daunting 338 – the highest successful chase in women’s ODI history.
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Kolkata Knight Riders’ social media team captured the sentiment perfectly and posted a split picture of the two heroes with the caption, “Number 3 are No. 1 in World Cups.” The two knocks had uncanny similarities – she came in high-pressure chases, played through early setbacks and took charge with calm determination.Rodrigues became only the second batsman to score a century in an ICC Women’s World Cup knockout chase after England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt. But unlike Sciver-Brunt’s losing ton in 2022, Jemimah’s innings led India to glory.Chasing 339, India were in trouble at 59/2 before Jemimah joined forces with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (89 off 88 balls). The duo put together a record 167-run partnership – India’s most in World Cup knockout history – to dash Australia’s hopes. Cameos from Richa Ghosh (26 off 16) and Amanjot Kaur (15 off 8) sealed a five-wicket victory with nine balls to spare.Earlier, Phoebe Litchfield (119) and Ellyse Perry (77) powered Australia to 338, but the Indian bowlers led by Shree Charani (2/49) and Deepti Sharma (2/73) ensured the total remained chaseable.Jemima’s quiet celebration – hugging her family after the winning runs – summed up the emotion of the moment. Like Gambhir in 2011, she wrote her own chapter in Indian World Cup folklore.
