India storms into Women's WC final: Blend of tears, hugs and joy as tricolor flies high!

The Indian Women's Cricket Team stormed into the finals of the ODI World Cup for the third time, defeating seven-time World Champions Australia at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.

Teary eyes gleaming with joy and pride, with celebrations joined by 1.4 billion more smiles, created an unforgettable moment that would be celebrated for generations.  No one expected, or gave a chance to, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led squad that they would be able to emerge victorious against the defending Champions, Australia. As unpredictable as it was, Jemimah Rodrigues stood at the end of the line playing the greatest-ever knocks in the history of Women's white ball cricket. She scored 127 not out off 134 balls, helping India chase down a target of 339 runs with five wickets and nine balls still in hand. 

Openers Shafali Verma (10) and Smriti Mandhana (24) departed early, before 10 overs of India's innings. It was then Jemimah and Harmanpreet's show, as they went on to build a partnership of 167 runs for the third wicket. Then, Harmanpreet lost her wicket to Annabel Sutherland, scoring 89, only 11 runs short of her century. Jemimah was assisted by Deepti Sharma (24) and Richa Ghosh (26) with their much-needed cameos in the end. Winning runs came from Amanjot Kaur, who hit an unbeaten 15 off 8 balls. 

On the Australian side, Phoebe Litchfield's 119 and Ellyse Perry's 77 took the score to 339. Spinner Shri Charani clinched 2/49, restricting the defending Champions finally. 

Legends react

Several cricket legends, including Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and Gautam Gambhir, reacted to the big win. 

Sharma, who was declared the Player of the Series for his 202 runs in the three-match series against Australia, celebrated Team India's win as he took to Instagram to share some stories. Along with the team's celebration pic, he wrote, "Well done, Team India!"

Cricket prodigy, legend Sachin Tendulkar, also applauded the win under immense pressure, congratulating the knocks of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and star of the day, Jemimah Rodrigues. He wrote on X, "Fabulous victory! Well done @JemiRodrigues and @IamHarmanpreet for leading from the front. Shree Charani and @Deepti_Sharma06, you kept the game alive with the ball. Keep the tricolor flying high." 

Fabulous victory! ????????

Well done @JemiRodrigues and @ImHarmanpreet for leading from the front. Shree Charani and @Deepti_Sharma06, you kept the game alive with the ball.

Keep the tricolour flying high. ???? ???????? pic.twitter.com/cUfEPwcQXn

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 30, 2025

Former Men's Cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly praised the team's win, as he wrote, "Incredible stuff from the girls...how good they have become in the last five years...one more to go...just outstanding @BCCIWomen." 

Men's Head Coach Gautam Gamnhir also hailed the performance, saying, "It ain't over till it's over. What a performance, girls!"  

Yuvraj Singh, star of the 2007 and 2011 World Cups, called it a "win beyond numbers". He wrote, "There are wins that go beyond numbers on a scoreboard. This was one of them. Under pressure, with the world watching @IamHarmanpreet played with the calm and conviction of a true leader, while @JemiRodrigues brought pure focus and intent to play an innings of a lifetime! This partnership came from a belief in their own game, in each other, and in what this team stands for. A historic semi-final to win and on to the finals now." 

The Women in Blue will now face South Africa in the final on November 2 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.