Navi Mumbai, October 30: In one of the most thrilling moments in Indian cricket history, the India women’s team chased down a mammoth 339 to defeat defending champions Australia by five wickets at the DY Patil Stadium and book a place in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup final.
Chasing Australia’s imposing total, India looked in trouble early after losing both openers, Shafali Verma (10) and Smriti Mandhana (24), inside the first 10 overs. Enter Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who together steadied the ship. Rodrigues produced a career-defining unbeaten 127 off 134 balls to steer India across the line with nine balls to spare. She shared a stellar third-wicket partnership of 167 runs with Harmanpreet (89 from 86 balls).
As the final winning runs were cut by Amanjot Kaur, the crowd of 34,651 erupted, players embraced, and tears flowed from Rodrigues and Harmanpreet — a powerful reflection of what the win meant. The victorious India team will now face South Africa in Sunday’s final, with the dream of finally lifting the trophy looming large.
Former men’s captain Virat Kohli applauded the effort via social media: “What a victory by our team over a mighty opponent like Australia. A great chase by the girls and a standout performance by Jemimah in a big game. A true display of resilience, belief, and passion. Well done, Team India!”
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar wrote: “Fabulous victory! Well done @JemiRodrigues and @ImHarmanpreet for leading from the front. … Keep the tricolour flying high.”
Former India women cricket captain Mithali Raj hailed the team India and said, “Nights like these remind you why you play this game.”
Bollywood stars joined the celebrations too, with filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli posting, “You’ve made the nation proud,” and actor Varun Dhawan tweeting his excitement at the historic win.
”What a moment for India! Our women’s team @BCCIWomen storms into the ICC #WomensWorldCup2025 Final with a thrilling win over Australia! A stunning display of determination, unity, and brilliance on the field. Take a bow, @JemiRodrigues, that century was pure class!,” wrote Kantara star Rishab Shetty.
The result marks the highest successful chase in women’s ODI World Cup history and ends Australia’s reign as a virtually unbeaten force in knockout matches. It also signals a new era for Indian women’s cricket — built on belief, fortitude, and the unshakable belief that they belong at the summit.
