Highlights:
- India chased a record 339 runs to beat Australia in the World Cup semifinal.
- Jemimah Rodrigues scored an unbeaten 127 runs to lead the win.
- The victory ended Australia’s 16-match World Cup winning streak.
- Rodrigues shared that she had struggled with anxiety before this match.
- The win is seen as a historic moment for Indian women’s cricket.
The atmosphere was electric as Rodrigues, ince struglling with anxiety and self-doubt, transformed her freustration into fireworks. “Today was not about my 50 or 100, it was about making India win,” she said, tearfully acknowledging her teammates who supported her through the lows.
India's campaign had been far from ideal marked by losses to Australia, South Africa, and England. But when it mattered most, the team produced magic. Despite early wickets of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, Rodrigues rebuilt calmly, showing mental strength that mirrored her technical excellence.
Australia, the most dominant side in women's cricket, appeared poised for another routine win after Phoebe Litchfield's century and late acceleration from Ash Gardner. Yet their usually flawless fielding deserted them at key moments, dropped catches, overthrows, and misfields cost them dearly.
As the target neared, Rodrigues punched the air after a boundary in the 48th over, the first visible crack in her composure. Two overs later, when Amanjot kaur struck the winning runs, Rodrigues sank to her knees, tears streaming as the crowd erupted.
This wasn't just a win; it was a statement. India had not only dethroned the giants but also reignited belief in women's cricket's power to inspire a nation. As the chants echoed long after the final ball, one thing became clear, the Indian women's team had arrived, and the world was watching.
