It was an innings that brought a nation to tears, not just because of what Jemimah Rodrigues did, but because of what she overcame to do it. The Mumbai-born batsman played the knock of her life on her home ground, scoring an unbeaten 127 off 134 balls to book India’s record five-wicket win over defending champions Australia in the Women’s World Cup semi-final at the DY Patil Stadium.
From being left out of the squad last year to leading India to their first final in almost a decade, Jemimah’s story has taken the cricketing world by storm. Emotions were raw as she broke down at the handover ceremony and admitted she was told she would be firing the number 3 minutes before the game. “It wasn’t about milestones. It was about getting India over the line,” she said through tears.
Former cricketers and fans have flooded social media with admiration for the 24-year-old’s resilience and composure. Irfan Pathan wrote, “Delighted to watch this chase by Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur.” Dinesh Karthik called it “an innings for the ages”, while Ashwin added: “From being left out of the team earlier in the World Cup to leading your team to the final. Take a bow Jemimah.”
Bursting with pride, Harbhajan Singh wrote, “Hamari ladkiya kisi se kam nahi hai. Proud of you all. Show it in the grand final.” Hailing her as “DY Patil’s local star”, Mohammad Kaif praised her faith and free cricket. Echoing the nation’s emotions, Gaurav Kapur tweeted, “We all cry with you Jemi. We all cry with you.”
With her knock, Jemimah not only led India to the final but also into the hearts of millions. It was more than just a winning innings; it was a story of redemption, resilience and remarkable grace under pressure.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
October 30, 2025
