IND-W vs AUS-W

October 30th, 2025 — a date that might as well be written in gold in the history of Indian cricket. Yes, they still haven't won the World Cup yet. However, the events of this day will inspire a generation to pick up the sport. Harmanpreet Kaur shut the nay-sayers, Jemimah Rodrigues officially elevated herself to the status of a 'legend' and India knocked the mighty Aussies out of the World Cup.

Australia will rue the dropped catches — they gave Rodrigues two lives — those two mistakes were enough to hand them their first defeat in a WC match in 8 years.

However, India will know that the job is not done yet. The last time they beat Australia in WC semifinal, they could not seal the final. Will the ending be different this time? We will find out together. Do join us on November 2nd. For now, this is Darpan Tikiya and Karthik Raj saying goodbye! See you soon.

Harmanpreet Kaur (India captain): "I am very proud. I don;'t have words as to how to express myself. Feeling great. (On conversations with coach Amol Muzumdar). We have been working so hard. Both of us are proud of this team. We trust that every player can win us a match from any situation. We realised that we did not execute it really well. We were late (to tee off). We needed to take risks a few overs earlier. In a fifty over game, we get chances to come back. But in the last five overs, you have to be at your best. Jemimah is someone who always wants to do it for the team. She always takes the responsibility. We both had a great time when we were in the middle. She was doing all the calculations for me. Before I could say anything, she would say, 'We got five runs, we got seven runs'. So that shows how involved she is. Now one more game to go. We all played well. We are happy with the result. But we have already started to speak about the next game. We want to win this World Cup. We want to do it for our fans and family who have always supported us. Even when we lost, we kept on getting messages that this is not the end. We are not alone. Entire country is with us."

Alyssa Healy (Australia Captain): Good contest in the end. Looking back at it, we did it to ourselves which is the first time I feel so. Outdone in the end. I thought half-job done, few runs left in the end. Still thought if we could execute in the field and with the ball, we were in the game. But India held their nerve and got over the line. When you see players of my age play, it is a weird experience. Phoebs (Phoebe Litchfield) was sensational, set us up and then Ash. It is fun to watch her bat and will be through the next four years leading up to the World Cup. There is going to be more and more opportunities in the next cycle. Thought Ash (Ashleigh Gardner) had a sensational tournament. Everyone contributed and that is why it is disappointing to go out. We created pressure, we created chances but we couldn't take it. Fielding is something we pride ourselves on and we let ourselves down tonight. We have played some unbelievable cricket. Semi-final is a knock-out game and if you don't turn up, some team is going to get you. Top 4 is Top 4 for a reason. (On not being part of the next 50-over WC) I won't be there Mel (Smiles). I think that is the beauty of this. There is a T20 World Cup next year which is exciting. Our One-Day cricket will shift, we did so much good this tournament. But we will learn from this learn from this.

Jemimah Rodrigues: I want to thank my mom, my dad and my coach and every single who supported me. The last few weeks have been hard. I didn't know I was going to bat at No.3. Just five minutes before entering I got to know. It wasn't to prove a point but I just wanted India to win. Today wasn't the day for my fifty or hundred. I did get a few chances but managed to get through. I was dropped for the last World Cup. This year I was picked but I was dropped mid-way. I was crying almost everyday, struggling with anxiety. Initially, I was just talking to myself. But when I became tired, I just said a scripture from the Bible which gave me strength. Just seeing India win by five wickets, I couldn't help myself. When Harry di came, all we spoke was about getting that one partnership. I told Deepti to keep speaking to me. Then Richa came in and helped me. I can't take credit for this. Navi Mumbai has always been special for me. Thank you to everyone who kept supporting, kept chanting.

10:42 PM: INDIA HAVE DEFEATED AUSTRALIA AND MADE IT TO THE FINALS OF THE ICC WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2025. 

Jemimah Rodrigues 127* (134) | Shree Charani 2/49 (10)
Phoebe Litchfield 119 (93) | Kim Garth 2/46 (7)

If you're an India fan, savour this moment. This is a night that you might be narrating to your grandkids one day.

There have been a bazillion moments in the last decade or so, when this team has come close to achieving glory and somehow, like Ash from Pokémon have fumbled near the summit. Not tonight!

They deliver the knockout punch to the seven time champions — a team that had not fumbled a single World Cup match since Harmanpreet Kaur played the innings of her life to beat them in the semifinals of 2017; a team that had found a way to trounce them every time they were about to cross the finish line. Of course, it needed something special.

The day did not begin right. There were numerous fielding lapses. Captain Kaur shelled a sitter off the bat of her opposite number in the embryonic stages of the game. Phoebe Litchfield played a scintillating innings, Ellyse Perry exhibited her class, Ashleigh Gardner provided the finishing touches and Australia notched up a mammoth looking score of 338. Yes, they should have probably gotten more, but in a semifinal, this was a daunting ask.

Then, India lost their openers cheaply — bringing Jemimah Rodrigues and the captain together at the crease. Neither had had the best of forms coming into this match. And yet they put on a show that will linger for an eternity in the memories of those who watched. The boundary-scoring shots were sumptuous, the calls for runs prompt, and the running itself sprightly. Rodrigues was the aggressor at the top, until Harmanpreet summoned 'Hammer'preet. A straight-batted six over wide long-off, a belligerent strike over midwicket and suddenly, the fans started getting flashbacks of 2017.

However, Australia came back, like they always do. Gardner's stunning catch to dismiss Kaur and the runout of Deepti Sharma gave rise to the apprehensions of a familiar ending. But, Rodrigues held her nerve. Yes, she was aided by two dropped catches — part and parcel of the game as they'd tell you. It is what you do with the chances that life gives you. Rodrigues made the most. 

48.3 Sophie Molineux to Amanjot Kaur, FOUR MORE! THAT IS IT! INDIA GET A SPOT IN THE FINAL IN AN AMAZING FASHION! TAKE A BOW JEMIMAH RODRIUGES, HARMANPREET KAUR, RICHA GHOSH AND AMANJOT KAUR! INDIA STANDS TALL! Length delivery outside-off, Amanjot makes some room and cuts it through point for a boundary. Jemimah Rodrigues stands in the center of the pitch and points to someone in the crowd. What a knock from the superstar! Navi Mumbai can't believe it, let alone India. The daunted Aussies have been haunted, spell bound they are as they go out of the competition!

48.2 Sophie Molineux to Amanjot Kaur, full and sliding in, Amanjot calmly lifts it over mid-off for a couple of runs. Great work from the fielder in the ring to not give up and push the ball inside.

48.1 Sophie Molineux to Amanjot Kaur, FOUR! Full-toss on off, Amanjot whacks it between cover and extra-cover for a boundary. India are just four away from a historic win!

47.4 Annabel Sutherland to Jemimah Rodrigues, FOUR MORE! INCREDIBLE FROM LITTLE JEMI! Length delivery with room, Jemimah cuts it to the right of backward point for a boundary. She knows the importance of this boundary.

47.4 Annabel Sutherland to Jemimah Rodrigues, full and angling down the leg-side, Alyssa Healy collects the ball but she will be frustrated with Sutherland here. WIDE called!

47.3 Annabel Sutherland to Jemimah Rodrigues, FOUR! JEMIMAH RODRIGUES, YOU SUPERSTAR! Short and slow outside-off, Jemimah walks across, waits and lifts it over the keeper for a boundary. Wonderful innovation under pressure.