In the ODI Women`s World Cup 2025 final against South Africa, Team India emerged victorious by 52 runs at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.
This also marked the first-ever World Cup title in Indian women`s cricket history.
Jemimah Rodrigues was one of the key players who played a crucial role in helping the team reach the final. Although she delivered a decent performance in the title clash, the right-handed batswoman revealed the side`s mindset while entering the final.
“We entered the match with full awareness that South Africa posed a significant threat and were entirely capable of chasing down a target of 299 runs, particularly given their history of achieving such formidable totals in high-pressure situations,” she said while speaking on `Rexona Cricket Live`.
Further, she revealed that all the Indian players recognised that the match in front of them served as a huge opportunity and they had to make the most out of it.
“Within our dressing room, the focus was on maximising this opportunity, recognising that this specific combination of players might never share the field again in exactly the same configuration. We made a collective pledge to pour our entire hearts and souls into those 50 overs, vowing to leave every last ounce of our effort on the ground in pursuit of victory,” said Jemimah.
In the title clash, the Mumbai-born cricketer scored 24 runs in 37 balls, with the help of a boundary. She also heaped praise on South Africa`s captain, Laura Wolvaardt, who accumulated 101 runs off 98 deliveries, which was laced with 11 boundaries and a maximum.
“While immense credit is due to their skipper, Laura Wolvaardt, for her exemplary leadership throughout the tournament and her magnificent innings in the final, we understood that the crucial moment arrived with her dismissal,” said the 25-year-old cricketer.
“That was the defining moment of the match, and we made sure to seize it — turning the momentum our way to eventually clinch the title,” she added.
In an attempt to chase the target of 299 runs, the Proteas were bowled out for 246 runs in 45.3 overs.
Deepti Sharma was the most successful bowler for the hosts. Bowling 9.3 overs, she bagged five wickets for 39 runs. Shafali Verma, too, claimed two wickets by conceding 36 runs in seven overs. Nallapureddy Charani also picked up one wicket for 48 runs in nine overs.