The 2025 World Cup semi-final between India and Australia has made cricket history. Indian women pulled off the most spectacular chase that cricket fans have ever seen in ODIs. Their remarkable skill and determination helped them chase down 339 runs. They sealed a five-wicket victory over the defending champions with nine balls remaining. No team had ever chased more than 300 runs in an ODI World Cup knockout match before this game.
Jemimah Rodrigues played the innings of her life and remained unbeaten at 127 from 134 balls. The team’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur backed her with a vital 89 runs. The victory tastes even sweeter because it ended Australia’s incredible run of 15 straight ODI World Cup wins. Indian cricket fans can now celebrate their team’s path to a third ICC World Cup final, following their previous appearances in 2005 and 2017. The women’s cricket world will witness something unique – the first ODI World Cup final without Australia or England, which shows how the sport has evolved.
India chases record 339 to reach World Cup final
The chase to reach an unprecedented target of 339 started poorly. India lost both openers inside the powerplay. Kim Garth struck twice – she trapped Shafali Verma (10) leg-before in the second over. Smriti Mandhana (24) was caught behind in the 10th over, leaving India struggling at 59-2.
How the chase unfolded over 48.3 overs
The defending champions seemed in control until Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur combined to create one of cricket’s greatest partnerships. Their spectacular 167-run stand off just 156 balls became the foundation of India’s historic run chase. They kept the required rate steady around six runs per over.
Rodrigues showed remarkable composure after being dropped from the playing XI just three matches ago. She reached her half-century in 57 balls. Her teammate Harmanpreet matched her intensity and brought up her fifty in 65 balls. Together, they systematically took apart the Australian bowling attack.
The duo’s efforts meant India needed 150 runs in the final 20 overs – a manageable task in modern cricket. Notwithstanding that, the match took a dramatic turn. Gardner caught Harmanpreet off Sutherland’s bowling in the 36th over. She departed for 89 off 88 balls with India still needing 113 runs from 88 deliveries.
Australia’s usually clinical fielding fell apart. Alyssa Healy dropped a simple chance with Rodrigues on 82. Tahlia McGrath later missed another opportunity when the Indian batter had scored 106. These mistakes got pricey for the defending champions.
Rodrigues stood firm despite losing Deepti Sharma (run out for 24 off 17 balls) and Richa Ghosh (quick 26 off 16). She completed her maiden World Cup century off 115 balls. Amanjot Kaur (15 not out off 8 balls) proved to be a capable partner and hit the winning boundary off Sophie Molineux in the 49th over.
India reached the target with nine balls remaining. DY Patil Stadium erupted in celebration. Rodrigues, unbeaten on 127 from 134 balls, sank to her knees in tears after the victory.
India’s previous highest successful chases in ODIs
This 339-run chase set a new standard in women’s ODI cricket. It surpassed the previous record of 331, which Australia set against India on October 12, 2025. Cricket fans noted the irony – India broke Australia’s record just 18 days after it was set.
The top five highest successful chases in women’s ODIs now stand as:
- 339 – India vs Australia (October 30, 2025)
- 331 – Australia vs India (October 12, 2025)
- 302 – Sri Lanka vs South Africa (April 17, 2024)
- 289 – Australia vs New Zealand (December 14, 2012)
- 283 – Australia vs India (December 28, 2023)
This achievement marked India’s 12th win over Australia in women’s ODIs from 61 matches. Australia tasted defeat in a Women’s ODI World Cup match for the first time since their 2017 semi-final loss – which also came against India.
The victory secured India’s place in the World Cup final against South Africa. It also proved India’s status as a formidable force in women’s cricket that can overcome the most daunting challenges on the sport’s biggest stage.
Rodrigues scores unbeaten 127 in career-defining knock
Jemimah Rodrigues stood at the center of India’s historic triumph with her unbeaten 127 off 134 balls – a defining moment in her career. The 25-year-old batter moved to number three in the batting order just minutes before the match. She turned what looked like an impossible chase into a memorable victory through pure determination and skill.
Dropped twice but held her nerve
Lady luck smiled on Rodrigues at vital moments during her innings. She slog-swept Alana King on 82, getting only a top edge that soared high toward midwicket. The packed stadium went quiet as Australian captain Alyssa Healy ran under the ball but dropped the catch. Rodrigues got another life when Tahlia McGrath spilled a chance on 106 in the 44th over.
The game saw another key moment when King struck her in front and Australia reviewed the not-out decision. Thousands watched the big screen nervously. The review showed the ball going over the stumps, giving her another reprieve. These moments proved game-changing for Indian cricket as Rodrigues made the most of each chance with remarkable poise.
“Australia were evidently feeling the pressure as mistakes began to creep into their fielding and bowling. The most costly ones were when Healy and Tahlia McGrath dropped Rodrigues on 83 and 106, respectively,” cricket commentators said after the match.
Her role in stabilizing the innings after early wickets
After Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana’s early exits, Rodrigues became the innings’ backbone. She crafted her knock with precision, mixing singles with timely boundaries to keep the momentum going. Her batting showed method and effectiveness – she found gaps regularly, played creative strokes to unsettle bowlers, and ran swiftly between wickets.
Harmanpreet struggled early on, but Rodrigues kept India in touch with the required run rate. She read the game brilliantly, especially during tough phases. Their partnership grew stronger as she took control and guided her captain through tense moments.
Rodrigues stayed cool under pressure even after Harmanpreet’s dismissal with 113 runs needed from 88 balls. She led her batting partners – Richa Ghosh (26 off 16) and Amanjot Kaur (15* off 8) – showing excellent leadership skills in the middle.
Quotes from post-match interview
“The last 12 months have been hard and it feels like a dream. It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Rodrigues said emotionally after the match. Her path to this career-defining knock wasn’t smooth. She faced exclusion from the Indian team before the 2022 World Cup and again for a group game against England just two weeks before this semifinal.
“I cried every day throughout this tour,” she revealed. “I was not doing well mentally, going through a lot of anxiety, then being dropped was a big challenge for me. But [this innings] was not for me to prove a point, it was for me to win this match for India. We’ve always lost in crunch situations, and I wanted to be there to the end to take us through”.
She highlighted her achievement’s emotional weight: “I want to thank my mum, my dad, my coach and every single person who believed in me through all this time”. She spoke about battling anxiety during the tournament but found strength in faith: “I have cried almost every day in this World Cup with anxiety but God took everything for me. I kept talking to myself and quoting scriptures from the Bible”.
Her team-first attitude shone through when she said: “Today was not about my century; it was all about getting India into the final. It feels like a dream and hasn’t sunk in yet”. This selfless mindset contributed to what experts call “the greatest ODI century in women’s cricket in the greatest run chase the format has seen”.
Harmanpreet Kaur leads from the front with 89
Image Source: NDTV Sports
Harmanpreet Kaur showed her big-match brilliance yet again in the 2025 World Cup semi-final between India and Australia. She scored a magnificent 89 off 88 balls that became the foundation of India’s historic run chase. The veteran batter from Punjab stepped in at a shaky 59-2 and proved why she remains one of cricket’s most reliable performers under pressure.
Captain’s vital partnership with Rodrigues
India needed 280 more runs at almost seven per over when Harmanpreet joined Rodrigues at the crease. She stayed calm and built her innings patiently with her younger partner. She took 65 balls to reach her half-century before picking up the pace. Her final strike rate stood at 101.14.
The duo put together a spectacular 167-run stand off just 156 balls that changed the game’s complexion. Their partnership broke two records:
- The highest 3rd-wicket partnership for India Women in World Cup knockouts
- The first-ever 150+ partnership for India in Women’s World Cup knockout history
Both batters shared amazing chemistry at the crease. Harmanpreet later shared: “Really enjoy batting with her. She is always telling me we got five runs, seven runs, two balls are left. That shows how involved she is”. Their calculated approach helped them break down Australia’s bowling attack systematically.
Australia’s coach Shelley Nitschke praised their performance: “She (Harmanpreet) is always a threat and a really good player. She just played beautifully, played the conditions well, she played at a good tempo. Her and Jemi often bat well together”.
Key boundaries and sixes that changed momentum
Harmanpreet’s expert shot selection made her innings special. She smashed 10 fours and 2 sixes, many at crucial moments. Her most impressive boundary came right after her fifty—a sublime inside-out loft over extra cover off Tahlia McGrath for six.
Brimming with confidence, she launched another maximum over midwicket off Gardner in the next over. These back-to-back sixes rattled the defending champions, whose fielding started to look shaky.
She dominated Australia’s spinners by using her feet beautifully to disrupt their rhythm. Her innings showcased elegant cover drives, powerful pulls, and perfectly-timed lofted shots. She responded with timely boundaries whenever the required rate started climbing.
Australia’s reactions revealed the psychological impact of her innings. Captain Alyssa Healy admitted: “Harman seems to step up in those big moments whenever India needs her”. Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry added: “Even in our dressing room, we would applaud Harman and Jemi for the way that they played”.
Harmanpreet’s masterclass ended at 89 when she hit Sutherland high in the air and Gardner took an excellent catch. India still needed 113 runs from 88 balls. Her innings had already transformed the chase, making what seemed impossible look achievable.
DY Patil Stadium burst into applause as she walked off. Everyone recognized both the quality and importance of her knock. Harmanpreet couldn’t hold back her tears after the match, knowing her performance had brought India closer to their dream of winning an ICC World Cup.
Australia posts 338 with Litchfield’s stunning century
The Australian team posted a daunting 338-7 in their 50 overs before Indian batters made their historic chase in the 2025 World Cup semi-final. Their young opener and experienced all-rounder led this batting display that seemed beyond reach.
Litchfield’s 119 and Perry’s 77 anchor innings
Phoebe Litchfield, just 21 years old, gave a batting masterclass at DY Patil Stadium with her brilliant 119 off 124 balls. She smashed 13 boundaries and 2 huge sixes in an innings that mixed grace with aggression. Her composure stood out as she reached fifty in 58 balls and went on to complete her hundred off 112 deliveries.
The left-hander built key partnerships through her innings. She added 72 runs with captain Alyssa Healy (31 off 42) after Beth Mooney fell early for 14. The game-changing moment came through her third-wicket stand with Ellyse Perry.
Perry, a six-time World Cup veteran, went together with one another with Litchfield. She crafted a well-paced 77 off 82 balls with 7 boundaries and a six. She kept rotating the strike and punished loose balls from Indian bowlers. Their 156-run partnership off 148 balls kept the run rate above six throughout the middle overs.
Litchfield stepped up her attack after reaching her century. She targeted India’s fifth bowler but fell in the 42nd over. Deepti Sharma had her caught at long-on while going for another big shot. Australia sat comfortably at 281-4 with eight overs left.
India’s late bowling comeback led by Charani and Deepti
Australia looked set to cross 350, but Indian bowlers fought back in death overs. Radha Charani turned her fortunes around after a tough start. She picked up 3-42 in her 10 overs, including the vital wickets of Tahlia McGrath (22) and Grace Harris (14).
Deepti Sharma bounced back from an expensive start to finish with 2-61. She removed both Litchfield and Georgia Wareham (4). Her clever pace variations troubled Australia’s lower order in their push for quick runs.
Renuka Singh Thakur stepped up in the final phase. She gave away just 17 runs in her last three overs and dismissed Ashleigh Gardner (19). The Indian pace attack nailed their yorkers and slower balls. They restricted Australia to 57 runs in the final 10 overs while taking five wickets.
This bowling comeback was vital. It kept the target within reach when Australia seemed headed for 370. Australian media focused on Litchfield’s century rather than India’s bowling resurgence. This is a big deal as it means that keeping the defending champions to 338 from 281-4 in the 42nd over was remarkable. The Indian bowlers set up what would become one of cricket’s greatest World Cup chases.
What were the turning points in the semi-final clash?
The 2025 World Cup semi-final between India and Australia had several game-changing moments that ended up shifting the match in India’s favor during their historic chase.
Healy’s dropped catch of Rodrigues at 82
The game’s biggest turning point came when Australian captain Alyssa Healy dropped a simple catch from Jemimah Rodrigues. The Indian batter was at 82 when she hit a routine pop-up that slipped through Healy’s gloves. India needed more than 100 runs to win at that point. Commentators quickly called it a “massive drop”.
Players watching from the sidelines called it an “absolute dolly” of a catch. This missed chance proved devastating for Australia as Rodrigues went on to win the match.
Healy later admitted this significant mistake saying, “We created enough chances in the field, we just weren’t able to capitalize. And I’m at fault for that as well”. Australian news reported that the defending champions badly needed a breakthrough at that moment.
Sutherland’s catch to dismiss Harmanpreet
The Australians had something to cheer about when Annabel Sutherland broke through to dismiss Harmanpreet Kaur for 89. India still needed 113 runs from 88 balls when this wicket fell and momentum briefly swung Australia’s way.
Gardner made a “top-notch diving catch,” grabbing the ball one-handed as she hit the ground. The stadium fell silent as Australia’s hopes briefly rekindled.
Fielding errors and extras conceded by Australia
Australia’s usually high fielding standards took a hit throughout the match. Tahlia McGrath gave Rodrigues another life on 106, and the Indian batter made them pay for their mistakes.
Phoebe Litchfield missed a tough diving attempt when Rodrigues was on 52. McGrath later dropped her while running backward at 106. These mistakes were unusual for a team known for its excellence.
The Australian captain summed up their performance: “We did not finish with the bat well, did not bowl that great, dropped chances in the field”. She added, “It feels a little bit un-Australian to not be as clinical as we normally are”.
The defending champions showed signs of pressure with overthrows and sloppy fielding. One commentator observed, “Australia should have won but they didn’t do the things they always do – they dropped catches, they threw overthrows, the death bowling wasn’t on point. The pressure got to them”.
These key moments led to India’s World Cup semi-final victory, which broke Australia’s 16-match winning streak in the tournament.
India sets up final clash with South Africa
India’s women made history by beating Australia in a thrilling semi-final and will now face South Africa in their first-ever ICC World Cup final. This matchup breaks new ground as neither Australia nor England will feature in an ODI World Cup final, which means a new champion will emerge.
Date, venue, and preview of the final
The championship battle will take place this Sunday, November 2, 2025, at 09:30 GMT at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The 45,300-seat venue has been lucky for India. The team won against New Zealand in league stages and beat Australia in semifinals here. South Africa hasn’t played a single match at this ground. These teams have met 34 times in ODIs, and India leads with 20 wins. Their last match ended with India’s 23-run victory in May, thanks to Jemimah Rodrigues’s brilliant 123.
India’s past World Cup final appearances
The Indian team’s journey to World Cup glory has seen heartbreaks. They lost to Australia by 98 runs in 2005, despite hosting the tournament. England beat them by a narrow margin of nine runs in 2017. These losses showed India’s growing strength at the highest level while highlighting areas that needed improvement.
What this win means for Indian women’s cricket
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia believes this World Cup victory could lift women’s cricket to new heights and might create “the same impact of 1983” – the year India’s men won their first World Cup. Girls now play cricket on streets with boys across India, something unimaginable before. The sport’s popularity has soared, with a record 25,166 fans attending a group stage match – the highest number ever at an ICC women’s event. A win on Sunday would change women’s cricket forever, especially its business side.
Conclusion
This semi-final victory marks a defining moment in women’s cricket history. India chased down 339 runs, breaking records and exceeding expectations. Our women cricketers proved they could beat even the strongest teams against impossible odds. The batting partnership between Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur showed incredible skill under pressure. Australia had never given up such a high score in a World Cup knockout match before.
The team finally broke through the semifinal barrier against Australia, the same team that stopped them in 2005. This win has changed the face of women’s cricket completely. The final against South Africa will be historic – the first time neither Australia nor England will play for the trophy. This shows how the power balance in women’s cricket is shifting.
Rodrigues’s story stands out as truly inspiring. She fought through personal battles and anxiety during the tournament but stepped up when the team needed her most. Her comeback story – from being left out of the team to scoring a match-winning century – shows this Indian team’s fighting spirit.
India heads into Sunday’s final at DY Patil Stadium with momentum and home support on their side. In spite of that, they can’t take South Africa lightly – a team that deserves their place in the final just as much. The stakes are huge. India has a chance to win their first Women’s World Cup trophy after coming close in 2005 and 2017.
Whatever happens in the final, this semifinal win has already gotten people excited about women’s cricket across India. The tournament’s record crowds show how popular women’s cricket has become. A World Cup victory could do for women’s cricket what the men’s 1983 win did – inspire young girls everywhere to take up cricket as a career.
The final showdown is coming up, and one thing is clear – Indian women’s cricket now belongs at the top level. They’re not just taking part – they’re real contenders for the biggest prizes. Their story from underdogs to finalists deserves all the praise, and Sunday gives them a chance to add the perfect ending to this amazing tale.