Eight years ago, a 16-year-old Jemimah Rodrigues stood among the crowd at Mumbai airport, cheering for India’s women’s cricket team returning from London after a heartbreaking loss to England in the 2017 World Cup final. The Mumbai Cricket Association had called a few young players to welcome the team. What Jemimah witnessed that day, thousands of fans celebrating their heroes despite the defeat, changed her life forever.
She made a quiet promise to herself, “One day, I’ll lead this team to victory.”
On a historic evening at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai, on October 30, 2025, that promise came true. The same Jemimah Rodrigues, now one of India’s most formidable batters, guided her team to the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final by defeating the reigning
champions, Australia, in a dramatic semi-final that redefined belief and resilience in women’s cricket.
Facing a huge target of 339, India appeared under immense pressure. Early dismissals of Smriti Mandhana (24) and Shafali Verma (10) left the scoreboard reading 59 for 2, a familiar sinking feeling against a mighty opponent. But Jemimah, promoted unexpectedly to Number 3, walked in with quiet determination and faith.
“I was in the shower when I got the call that I’d be batting at number three,” she revealed after the match, “I told myself, ‘hang in there, God will fight the battle’.”
What followed was one of the finest innings in the history of Indian women’s cricket. Jemimah’s unbeaten 127 off 134 balls, studded with 14 boundaries, was not just a display of technique and timing, but also of unshakable mental strength. Alongside captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored a fluent 89 off 88 balls, she stitched a crucial 167-run stand that turned the tide in India’s favour.
The duo’s partnership laid the foundation for a record-breaking chase, as India reached 341 for 5 in just 48.3 overs, the highest successful run chase in women’s ODI history, surpassing the previous record of 331.
Rodrigues’ journey to this moment, however, was far from easy. In her post-match interview, an emotional Jemimah confessed to having battled self-doubt and anxiety in the months leading up to the World Cup. “I cried every day,” she said, “My form had gone, and I didn’t know how to come back. When I couldn’t handle it myself, God took care of me.”
Her words captured the spirit of an athlete who had faced adversity but refused to surrender. “When I couldn’t move forward, my teammates pushed me. I didn’t do anything alone; it all happened because of them,” she added, acknowledging her team’s unflinching support.
Deepti Sharma (24), Richa Ghosh (26), and Amanjot Kaur (15*) played vital cameos that ensured the momentum never dipped. But it was Jemimah Rodrigues’ composure that anchored India’s dream run.
For her unbeaten century under immense pressure, Jemimah was named Player of the Match. “The last four months have been really tough,” she said with a smile, “but it feels like a dream. It hasn’t fully sunk in yet.”
As the Indian tricolour fluttered in the stands and the team celebrated a historic win, one couldn’t help but recall that day at the airport in 2017, when a teenage girl, filled with hope, had watched her idols return home in defeat.
Eight years later, that girl has become the face of triumph.
