Women's ODI World Cup Semi Final: I Played For India's Victory, Not For My Own Score

It was a night when India made the impossible happen.

Chasing down 339 against the unbeatable Australia in the Women’s ODI World Cup semifinal at DY Patil Stadium, India achieved the largest successful chase in the history of the format.

At the center of this achievement was Jemimah Rodrigues – calm, collected, and brave – her unbeaten century leading India into the final against South Africa on Sunday (November 2, 2025).

Right after her match-winning performance, Jemimah shared her thoughts on her unexpected batting promotion, the mental and emotional struggles she faced over the past month, and the belief that kept her grounded throughout.

With a reshuffled lineup, Jemimah was originally set to bat at No. 5, behind captain Harmanpreet Kaur.

However, the team management altered the plans, and by the time Jemimah finished her shower in the dressing room, she had just five minutes before heading out to join Smriti Mandhana in the middle.

Even before India’s innings kicked off, Jemimah felt that the target was achievable, especially with India tightening things up in the last 10 overs of Australia’s innings.

Her collaboration with captain Harmanpreet Kaur was crucial for India’s chase. Together, they put together 167 runs, mixing power with precision, boldness with caution.

“I’ve been part of chases against Australia before”, Jemimah remembered.

“Three times we were in a good position – we got it to run-a-ball situations and still ended up losing. Those experiences taught me a lot. This time, I just wanted to be there to finish it off”.

She mentioned that the lessons learned came full circle.

“The day before, we had a group chat – what can we improve in this World Cup? I said, ‘I want to be there till the end and finish the game’.Whether we bat first or chase, if I’m there, I know I can build partnerships and find gaps. And today, it felt like everything was set up by God. Everything that happened in the last month – it felt like preparation for this moment”.

Just when it seemed like both established batters would lead India to victory, Harmanpreet was out for 80, caught at deep square leg.

India has had its share of notorious collapses in crucial matches after Harmanpreet’s dismissal.

“I remember telling Harry di (Harmanpreet Kaur) that we both need to finish this”, Jemimah said.

“We can’t leave it to the end just because we’re set. We knew we could see it through”.

However, her partner’s exit changed Jemimah’s perspective.

“When Harry di got out, I think it was a blessing in disguise. I was losing focus due to fatigue, and when she got out, it added more responsibility – I need to be here, she’s out, so I’ll score for her. That helped me get back in the right mindset. From that point, I started playing more sensibly again”.

She shared how tiredness almost affected her decision-making during the final stages of the chase. “I lost a lot of energy and felt really worn out. It was a tricky moment – should I go for it now or take it deep? That was a big lesson – to stay in there. Towards the end, I was praying, talking to myself, and having a chat with God. Because I feel when I can’t carry on”.

She also shared. “I was dealing with a lot of anxiety at the beginning of the tournament. Before a few matches, I would call my mom and just cry – cry the whole time. When you’re anxious, it’s like you’re numb. You don’t know how to handle it”.

Her voice trembled as she talked about the support system that helped her through.

“My mom, my dad – they were incredibly supportive. Then there was Arundhati Reddy – I think I cried in front of her almost every day.

I used to joke, “Stay away from me, I’ll start crying!’ But she checked in on me daily. Smriti was also there – she just stood by me in the nets, didn’t say much, but her presence was really comforting. Radha (Yadav) has always looked out for me. I feel so lucky to have friends who feel like family. It’s totally okay to ask for help”.

She also mentioned how her faith kept her steady during those uncertain times.

“I’m thankful to Jesus, because His presence and reading the Bible really lifted me during hard times. The Bible says, ‘Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning’. Today joy arrived but I’m still crying”, she said tears streaming down her face.

This wasn’t the first time Jemimah had overcome challenges. Being left out of India’s squad in the last World Cup had really shaken her confidence, and this tournament didn’t start off well for her either.

“When I entered this World Cup, having been dropped from the last one, I didn’t want to prove anything”, she explained.

She further said,”I just wanted to ensure India wins. It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to prove yourself and that kind of thinking never helps me”.

She acknowledged that her World Cup journey started off tough.

She added, “I didn’t kick things off well – first match, I ended up with zero. In the next match, I had a solid start but couldn’t follow through. Then it was another zero. After that, I scored a 30. Then I was out. Every time I thought, okay, this is it, things just got worse. So this knock is really special because of everything I went through and to achieve it in front of my family, my team, and my supporters in Navi Mumbai. It feels like my best innings to date. I’m saving one more for the final”.

“No matter which team made it to the semifinals, our response would have been the same”, she stated confidently.

“We’re not focused on the opponent – we want to seize the moment and win it. We play the match to secure a win for India, with the same passion and intensity”.

The crowd at DY Patil had witnessed a historic moment, but for her, it was beyond just statistics – it was about healing, hope, and a sense of belonging.

As India advanced to another World Cup final, Jemimah Rodrigues’ words resonated with the emotion of someone who had battled, stumbled, and risen again and in doing so, she became the heartbeat of India’s most remarkable chase.

They are set to face South Africa in the final(Nov 2,2025).

India is heading to their third Women’s ODI World Cup final, having previously lost in the finals of 2005 and 2017.