Brisbane’s skies might have spoiled the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2025 season opener, but Jemimah Rodrigues brought her familiar charm and optimism to the rain-curtailed night at Allan Border Field on November 9, 2025. Just a week after lifting India’s maiden ICC Women’s ODI World Cup title at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, the 25-year-old top-order batter walked into her second stint with the Brisbane Heat, smiling, witty, and full of purpose.
The clash between Brisbane Heat, led by Jess Jonassen, and Melbourne Renegades, helmed by Georgia Wareham, turned out to be a truncated encounter, with the Renegades clinching victory by seven wickets under the DLS method. Brisbane Heat’s total of 133 was revised to 66 runs in eight overs for the Renegades’ chase, and despite an early wobble, Courtney Webb (34*) and Wareham (16*) guided them home.
For Rodrigues, who managed six off nine deliveries, it wasn’t the fairy-tale start she would have hoped for, but her aura carried far beyond the numbers. Speaking to broadcaster 7 Cricket, Rodrigues delivered a line that perfectly balanced humour and humility: “Honestly, I was not sure if Australia would allow me to cross the border to come here after the semi-final.” The remark, tongue-in-cheek yet heartfelt, was a nod to the unforgettable semi-final showdown between India and Australia at the 13th ICC Women’s ODI World Cup.
That match, played on October 30 at the DY Patil Stadium, saw Rodrigues script one of the greatest chases in World Cup history. Coming in at No. 3 after Shafali Verma’s early dismissal, she anchored with an innings for the ages in India’s pursuit of a daunting 339-run target with an unbeaten 127 off 134 balls, steering her team to a five-wicket win with nine balls remaining. Her innings, lined with 14 boundaries, snapped Australia’s 15-match unbeaten streak in World Cup play, a streak that had begun right after India stunned them in the 2017 semi-final.
That performance not only earned Rodrigues the Player of the Match award but also defined her arrival on the biggest stage. Under Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership and Amol Muzumdar’s guidance, India went on to defeat Laura Wolvaardt’s South Africa by 52 runs in the final, marking their first ICC title at the senior level in women’s cricket.
Rodrigues finished as India’s third-highest run-getter in the tournament with 292 runs at a strike rate of 101.03 and an average of 58.40. Her campaign included both a century and a half-century, ensuring her status as one of the pivotal forces behind India’s historic achievement.
Now in her second stint with the Brisbane Heat, having first joined the franchise in 2024, Rodrigues carries that same exuberance into WBBL 11. Her journey in the league began in 2021 with the Melbourne Renegades, where she showcased her batting flair with a best of 75 not out against the Sydney Thunder.
Over the years, she’s turned out for the Melbourne Stars and now the Heat, accumulating 273 runs at a strike rate of 135.82 and an average of 30.33 from 11 innings for Brisbane. Her 61 off 40 balls against the Adelaide Strikers last November, decorated with seven boundaries and a six, remains a reminder of the impact she can make at the top.
When asked about her welcome into the Brisbane Heat squad, Rodrigues’ warmth lit up the conversation again. “Everyone’s been so warm and welcoming, and everyone is just so happy in general for the growth of women’s cricket that has happened because of that win. We know it’s going to change massively, not just in India but all over the world,” she said with conviction.
The statement resonates beyond in-game chatter; it encapsulates Rodrigues’ belief in collective growth and her deep understanding of the sport’s evolution. For a young player who has already tasted both heartbreak and glory, her presence in the WBBL is more than just another overseas stint. It is an extension of India’s world-beating spirit, channeled through a cricketer who plays with joy, grit, and grace.
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