Women’s World Cup 2025: Virat Kohli salutes Jemimah Rodrigues for her brilliant performance for India vs Australia

India‘s sensational victory over Australia in thesemi-final has been hailed as one of the greatest chases in cricketing history. Powered by an unforgettable, unbeaten century from Jemimah Rodrigues, the Women in Blue successfully chased a mammoth 339-run target to defeat the defending champions. This monumental achievement not only shattered Australia’s long unbeaten run but also propelled India into their third World Cup final. The emotional victory drew immediate and powerful reactions from across the cricket world, most notably from super star batter Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli bows down to Jemimah Rodrigues’ ‘standout performance’ for India against Australia

Super star Indian batter Kohli, known globally as ‘The Chase Master,’ was quick to take to his social media account to pay tribute to the team’s incredible effort and reserve special praise for Jemimah Rodrigues‘ match-winning knock. Kohli’s message focused on the collective spirit of the team and the sheer determination shown by Rodrigues in a high-pressure encounter against a formidable opponent.

“What a victory by our team over a mighty opponent like Australia. A great chase by the girls and a standout performance by Jemimah in a big game. A true display of resilience, belief, and passion. Well done, Team India!” Virat said.

What a victory by our team over a mighty opponent like Australia. A great chase by the girls and a standout performance by Jemimah in a big game. A true display of resilience, belief, and passion. Well done, Team India! 🇮🇳

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli)

The Player of the Match, Rodrigues, delivered a moving interview after the match, opening up about the mental and emotional battles she faced in the lead-up to her career-defining 127* off 134 balls, making the victory a profound moment of personal redemption. Her honesty about her struggles deeply resonated with fans and fellow athletes.

“Firstly, I want to thank Jesus, because I couldn’t do this on my own. I know he carried me through today. I want to thank my mom, my dad, my coach, and every single person who just believed in me. It was really hard this last month, it feels like a dream and it still hasn’t sunk in yet. I’ve cried almost every day through this tour. I wasn’t doing well mentally, going through anxiety. Today wasn’t about my fifty or my hundred, it was about making India win. I knew I had to show up, and God took care of everything. Towards the end, I was just quoting a scripture from the Bible, to just stand still and that God will fight for me. I just stood there, and He fought for me. I’m saving one more for the finals.” Jemimah said.

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India historical win over Australia in the Women’s World Cup 2025 semifinal

India defeated seven-time champions Australia by five wickets in a breathtaking Women’s World Cup semi-final, successfully chasing down a colossal target of 339 runs, the highest successful run chase in the history of Women’s One-Day Internationals. Australia, after opting to bat, posted a massive 338, anchored by opener Phoebe Litchfield‘s brilliant 119, supported by Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner.

In response, India lost both openers early, slumping to 59/2, which brought Rodrigues to the crease. The young batter proceeded to play the innings of her life, compiling a magnificent, unbeaten 127 runs off 134 balls. She first forged a match-winning, 167-run partnership with captain (89) that broke the back of the chase.

Rodrigues showcased immense maturity and control, seamlessly rotating the strike and finding the boundary with precision (14 fours). Despite the wickets of Kaur and others falling around her, Rodrigues remained the composed anchor, steering India across the finish line with nine balls to spare in a victory that was a testament to her cool head under pressure and her personal redemption.

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