NEW DELHI: In a performance that instantly drew parallels with current Indian men’s cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir’s iconic knock from the 2011 World Cup final, Jemimah Rodrigues produced an innings of pure grit and brilliance to guide India into the ICC Women’s World Cup final in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Wearing the same jersey number 5 and walking in at same number three, Jemimah anchored India’s record-breaking chase with an unbeaten 127 off 134 balls — an effort that rekindled memories of Gambhir’s 97 against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede fourteen years ago. Back then, Gambhir’s innings formed the backbone of India’s pursuit of 275 in the men’s final; on Thursday, Jemimah’s masterclass propelled India past Australia’s daunting 338 — the highest successful chase in the history of women’s ODIs.
The Kolkata Knight Riders’ social media team captured the sentiment perfectly, posting a split image of the two heroes with the caption: “No.3s being No.1s in the World Cups.” Both knocks had uncanny similarities — coming at one-down in a high-pressure chase, playing through early setbacks, and shouldering the responsibility with calm determination.
Rodrigues became only the second batter to score a century in an ICC Women’s World Cup knockout run chase after England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt. But unlike Sciver-Brunt’s ton in a losing cause in 2022, Jemimah’s innings led India to glory.Chasing 339, India were in trouble at 59/2 before Jemimah joined forces with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (89 off 88 balls). The duo stitched a record 167-run partnership — India’s highest in World Cup knockout history — to dismantle Australia’s hopes. Cameos from Richa Ghosh (26 off 16) and Amanjot Kaur (15 off 8) sealed a five-wicket win with nine balls to spare.Earlier, Phoebe Litchfield (119) and Ellyse Perry (77) powered Australia to 338, but India’s bowlers, led by Shree Charani (2/49) and Deepti Sharma (2/73), ensured the total remained chaseable.Jemimah’s calm celebration — hugging her family after the winning runs — summed up the emotion of the moment. Much like Gambhir in 2011, she had scripted a chapter of her own in India’s World Cup folklore.
