In one of the most memorable nights in Indian cricket history, India’s Jemimah Rodrigues produced a career-defining innings at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, leading India to a stunning victory over seven-time world champions Australia and securing a spot in the Women’s World Cup final.
Rodrigues’ unbeaten 127 off 116 balls powered India to a record-breaking chase of 339 – the highest successful pursuit in Women’s ODI history and handed Australia a shock exit from the tournament. The knock, widely described as the “innings of a lifetime,” came after the right-hander was dropped twice by the Australians, once on 82 by skipper Alyssa Healy and again on 106 by Tahlia McGrath.
Australia, who were heavy favourites to lift their eighth title, were left stunned by a determined Indian side that recovered from early setbacks to chase down the massive total with nine balls to spare.
Australian Media Reacts: ‘Un-Australian’ Display, ‘Miracle Chase’
The reaction in Australia was one of disbelief. Healy called her team’s performance “un-Australian” and admitted they had “let ourselves down.” The Sydney Morning Herald termed it a “sloppy display,” while Channel Nine described the loss as a “blunder that haunts skipper.”
The Australian wrote that the side had “blown their World Cup shot,” while ABC News called India’s triumph a “miracle semifinal run chase.” Fox Cricket highlighted the defining moment – Healy’s dropped catch calling it a “massive” mistake in the “innings of a lifetime.”
Despite disappointment, Australian outlets acknowledged the scale of India’s achievement, with The Roar describing the chase as “epic” and The Australian calling it a “stunner.”
Jemimah’s Journey and Past Controversy
Jemimah Rodrigues’ performance has reignited conversations around her rise in Indian cricket and the controversies that once overshadowed her off-field life.
In October 2024, Mumbai’s Khar Gymkhana, one of the city’s oldest and most prestigious clubs, revoked Rodrigues’ honorary membership after allegations surfaced that her father, Ivan Rodrigues, had used the club’s premises for religious gatherings linked to Brother Manuel Ministries, a Christian evangelical organization.
According to club officials, Ivan Rodrigues had booked the banquet hall multiple times between March 2023 and November 2024, allegedly hosting around 35 events that members described as “conversion-oriented.” Committee member Shiv Malhotra stated that such activities violated the club’s Rule 4A, which prohibits any religious events to maintain a secular ethos.
Khar Gymkhana president Vivek Devnani, however, claimed the allegations were politically motivated, citing upcoming club elections and lack of conclusive evidence.
The decision to revoke Jemimah’s honorary membership granted in March 2023 when she became the first female cricketer to receive it, sparked debate about whether she was unfairly penalized for her father’s actions.
Old Video Resurfaces
Amid the controversy, an old video of a teenage Jemimah resurfaced online, showing her at a Christian event expressing gratitude to God for her cricket success. The clip, reportedly from 2015, showed her collapsing to the ground in what appeared to be an evangelical gathering.
As Jemimah Rodrigues takes India to finals, here’s her old video from an evangelical event where her father used her for proselytising purposes.
In the video, as the host approaches Jemimah, she acts as if she is possessed and collapses on the ground. pic.twitter.com/IJ739Vplas
— Brutal Truth (@sarkarstix) October 30, 2025
The video circulated widely on social media following reports of her father’s association with Brother Manuel Ministries. Posts from the ministry’s official pages showed multiple events at Khar Gymkhana in 2023, with some featuring images of Jemimah present at the venue.
Redemption Through Performance
Thursday night’s innings has now rewritten the narrative around Jemimah Rodrigues. From being a promising young cricketer once caught in an off-field controversy, she has now become the face of Indian women’s cricket’s most significant triumph.
Her 127* not only sealed India’s place in the World Cup final but also marked a defining chapter in her career – one that may finally shift focus from her past to her extraordinary talent on the field.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
