Navi Mumbai, Oct 31: Jemimah Rodrigues produced the innings of her life when India needed it most, crafting a match-winning century against Australia in the Women’s Cricket World Cup semifinal that not only sealed India’s place in the final but also showcased her unshakable faith and emotional resilience.
Fighting back tears after being named Player of the Match, Rodrigues said she owed everything to her family and faith. “I just want to thank Jesus and my Mom and Dad, who believed in me,” she told Raunak Kapoor in the post-match presentation. “The last few months were tough. I actually thought I was batting at number five, but just before the game, I was told I’d go in at number three.”
Rodrigues’ fluent century anchored India’s chase after a tricky start. Yet, for her, it wasn’t about personal milestones. “Today was not about my hundred — it was about the win,” she said. “I had amazing people around me who carried me. I was reading the Bible, and one verse said, ‘Just stand still and God will fight for you.’ That’s what I held on to.”
She credited teammates Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh for keeping her spirits high throughout the tense chase, and acknowledged the crowd for their passionate support. “Deepti and Richa kept lifting me up. Navi Mumbai has always been special for me, and I can’t thank everyone enough for cheering for us.”
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised Rodrigues’ maturity and composure under pressure. “I’m so proud of this team,” Harmanpreet said. “Jemi has always been a reliable player. It’s fun to bat with her — she does all the calculations and hard work. She held her nerves and batted till the end, so full credit goes to her.”
The skipper added that India’s improved death-overs execution made the difference this time. “We learned from our past mistakes. Earlier we couldn’t finish strong, but today we did. The talk in the dressing room is that there’s one more game to go — everyone’s hungry to win the World Cup.”
For Australia, captain Alyssa Healy admitted it was a tough defeat but lauded her team’s fight. “It was a good contest, but we didn’t finish well with the bat,” Healy said. “India played really well and held their nerves. I’m proud of my team — someone stepped up in every game — but this one stings.”
Healy also revealed that this was her last ODI World Cup, marking the end of a glittering chapter in Australian women’s cricket.
As India look ahead to the final, Rodrigues’ century stands as more than a match-winning effort — it’s a testament to belief, perseverance, and the power of faith when the stakes are highest.
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