Jemimah Rodrigues explains how Harmnapreet Kaur's wicket during Women's ODI World Cup 2025 semifinal clash vs Australia was 'like a blessing in disguise'

India star batter Jemimah Rodrigues crafted an unforgettable innings as the Women in Blue defeated Australia in the semifinal clash of the Women's ODI World Cup 2025 to seal their berth for the title decider at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

How was Harmanpreet Kaur's wicket a blessing in disguise?

Apart from Jemimah, Harmnapreet (89 off 88 balls)also played a crucial role as the duo stitched a 167-run stand to lay the foundation of the record chase. However, Jemimah believes that Harmanpreet's wicket in the semifinal against Australia was a blessing in disguise because she was losing focus due to tiredness. He further explained that, after Harman's wicket, she thought that it added more responsibility to herself.

"When that happened (Harman's wicket fell) - but actually - it wasn't a blessing, but it's like a blessing in disguise for me because I was losing my focus because of my tiredness. But when Harman got out, I think that added more responsibility to me, that okay, I need to be here, okay, she's out, I'll score for her. And I think that again got me in the right zone. Then I started just sensibly playing," Jemimah Rodrigues told the media after India's win.

Jemimah's performance vs Australia

Rodrigues who got a forgettable start in the tournament with just 65 runs in four innings, including two ducks and was dropped for the match against England in the league stage, smashed 127* in 134 balls (with 14 boundaries) helped India chase down 339 runs which is the highest chase ever in women's ODI cricket and in the knockout matches across both men's and women's ODI World Cups.

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Rodrigues for her mindset after getting dropped

After guiding India to the final, Jemimah described her match-winning knock as "very special" considering the struggles she faced, including being dropped from the team and inconsistent form. She further explained that her focus was on helping the team win, and she was overwhelmed with emotion playing in front of her family, team, and home crowd. Jemimah also teased that she's "saving one more for the finals"

"To be honest, when I was dropped, obviously, when I came into this World Cup, being dropped, the last World Cup, I wanted to come out there and not prove a point, but just do things that my team wins. I kept reminding myself that it is very easy to get into that mindset, and that mindset has never helped me. But I think today, not just in the last few games, but from the start, all I thought about was that I didn't start well. Things just kept getting worse and worse. First, I was dropped off at the previous World Cup. Then got out on 0 in the first match, went in next match, got a great start, couldn't convert it again. Getting out on zero, then getting a 30, then being dropped. So just when I felt, okay, now it's going to happen, now it's going to - things just got worse and worse. This knock is very special to me because of everything I've gone through. And just to come out here, do it in front of my family, do it in front of my team, do it for the team, do it in front of my people - Navi Mumbai, for the cr," she concluded.

India will now face South Africa for the Women's ODI World Cup 2025 final which is scheduled to take place on November 02 at the same venue.