India, led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, were up against Australia, led by skipper Alyssa Healy, in the high-stakes 2nd semi-final of the Women’s World Cup 2025 at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, on 30th October 2025.
The Indian team finally got their combinations spot on; Richa Gosh returned, replacing Uma Chetry. Kranti Gaud made her way back into the side, replacing Harleen Deol. A forced change, an ankle injury ruled Pratika Rawal out of the tournament, leading to the wildcard entry of Shafali Verma in the opening slot alongside Smriti Mandhana. For Australia, regular skipper Alyssa Healy returned to the side, replacing Georgia Voll, and Sophie Molineux made her way back into the side, replacing Georgia Wareham.
Litchfield’s 119, fifties from Perry and Gardner power Australia to 338
Yet another moment when the coin toss didn’t go India’s way in the tournament. The Australian openers Phoebe Litchfield and skipper Alyssa Healy got their side off to a watchful start with a 25-run opening partnership. Kranti Gaud got the better of the Australian skipper, Alyssa Healy, for the 4th time in the format, providing the massive first breakthrough for India in the 6th over of the innings.
Ellyse Perry joined Phoebe Litchfield at the crease, and the elegant left-handed opening batter went through the gears, putting the foot on the paddle. She unleashed every shot in her armory, with remarkable clarity, leaving the Indian bowlers clueless to an extent. The partnership soared past the 150-run mark. However, Amanjot Kaur, who kept things tight in the initial overs of her spell, came back and ended a threatening knock from Phoebe Litchfield (119 off 93 balls) in the 28th over of the innings, providing the much-needed 2nd breakthrough for her side. At the age of 22 Years and 195 Days old, she became the youngest to score a century in the knockout game in the Women’s World Cup.
Beth Mooney joined Ellyse Perry at the crease, and the pair continued to take the momentum forward with a brisk 40-run partnership for the 3rd wicket, which also took them to the 220-run mark. A smart take from Jemimah Rodrigues at covers ended Beth Mooney’s (24 off 22 balls) stay at the crease in the 34th over of the innings. Shree Charani provided the 3rd breakthrough for India. Shree Charani also went on to grab an excellent return catch to send Annabel Sutherland packing in the 36th over of the innings.
Her fellow left-arm spinner Radha Yadav landed another decisive blow by sending Ellyse Perry (77 off 88 balls) back to the pavilion in the 40th over of the innings, providing the crucial 5th breakthrough for India. Ashleigh Gardner’s (63 off 45 balls) fireworks towards the end propelled Australia to the highest-ever total (338/10) in a World Cup Semi-Final, surpassing South Africa’s 319, in the 1st semi-final on October 29. The Aussies got bundled out with a ball to spare, giving India a psychological edge heading into the innings break.
Shree Charani (10-0-49-2) and Deepti Sharma (9.5-0-73-2) were the standout performers with the ball for India. Renuka Singh (8-0-39-0), Amanjot Kaur (8-0-51-1), and Radha Yadav (8-0-66-1) played their part with the ball for their side.
Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur guide India to home World Cup Final
Chasing history, the Indian openers, Smriti Mandhana and the wildcard entrant Shafali Verma, in particular, got the run chase off and running with her trademark fearless approach, smashing a couple of power-packed boundaries. Kim Garth eventually got the better of her with a nip-backer, which S Verma (10 off 5 balls) missed it completely, shuffling across the line, providing the early breakthrough for Australia.
Jemimah Rodrigues joined Smriti Mandhana at the crease, and the duo kept up with the asking rate with a crisp 46-run partnership for the 2nd wicket. A strangle down the leg-side, leaving the vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana (24 off 24 balls), stunned as a faint nick was spotted on the ultra-edge upon the review from the Australian skipper Alyssa Healy, sending the decision upstairs in the final over of the powerplay. The Australians were jubilant as Kim Garth provided the massive breakthrough in the context of the game.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur joined Jemimah Rodrigues at the crease, and the duo buckled up and worked the ball into the gaps, while also keeping up with the tempo of the chase, having the asking rate under check. The pair capitalised on the loose deliveries, took calculated risks, to keep India breathing with hope in the run chase.
There was constant communication between the pair as they grew in confidence deep into their innings. The partnership soared to new heights; the massive 167-run stand for the 3rd wicket was the highest partnership for India, for any wicket in a knockout game in a World Cup and that too against Australia. It also took India’s total past the 220-run mark. Harmanpreet Kaur mistimed the pull shot in the 36th over of the run chase, and it took an excellent take from Ashleigh Gardner to end a clutch knock (89 off 88 balls) under pressure from the Indian skipper. Annabel Sutherland provided the much-needed 3rd breakthrough for Australia.
After the skipper’s departure, Jemimah Rodrigues dug deeper into the run chase, peppering the gaps with precision from one end, while the likes of Deepti Sharma (24 off 17 balls), Richa Ghosh (26 off 16 balls) took the baton forward, keeping India in the hunt. In the process, she also registered her maiden ODI World Cup century, without any celebrations, keeping in mind the larger picture of taking India over the line, learning from previous experiences in the tournament.
Richa Ghosh’s departure in the 46th over of the innings had the game in the balance. In walked Amanjot Kaur with 29 runs required of the last four overs. It took every ounce of energy in the tank for Jemimah Rodrigues, pouring in everything she had out on the field, as she continued to score from every corner of the ground, exploring unorthodox areas in the field, taking India into a comfortable position.
Amanjot Kaur (15* off 8 balls) sealed the deal with a couple of boundaries, securing a record, highest-ever run chase in a World Cup knockout game (men or women) to end Australia’s 15-match unbeaten streak in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, stretching over 8 years, since the previous occasion (in Derby 2017) they were defeated in the tournament. On both occasions, it was the Indian side that who managed to apply the brakes on the Australian juggernaut. Jemimah Rodrigues (127* off 134 balls) stayed unbeaten like a warrior to guide India over the line against the defending champions. Jemimah Rodrigues also became the first player to score a century in a successful World Cup knockout run chase.
Kim Garth (7-0-46-2) and Annabel Sutherland (10-0-69-2) were the only wicket-takers with the ball for Australia.
Jemimah Rodrigues (127* off 134 balls) was awarded the Player of the Match. She, alongside the Indian skipper, laid the platform for a collective effort that saw India secure their 3rd appearance in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup final. And as things stand, we are all set to witness a new champion in the ODI World Cup history, as Harmanpreet Kaur’s India will be up against Laura Wolvaardt’s South Africa in the grand finale on 2nd November 2025, at the DY Patil Stadium.
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