Jemimah Rodrigues' Historic Century Powers India to World Cup Final After Emotional Mental Health Battle

In what will forever be remembered as one of the greatest innings in Women's Cricket World Cup history, Jemimah Rodrigues played the knock of her career, scoring an unbeaten 127 runs to win a historic game for India at the DY Patil Cricket Stadium in Navi Mumbai The Educated Patient. But it wasn't just the numbers that made this performance extraordinary—it was the emotional journey behind them. A Night That Rewrote History Against all odds, India did the unthinkable, beating Australia in the semi-final of the ongoing Women's World Cup The Educated Patient. Chasing a world record target of 339, India got there with nine balls to spare to book a spot in the final against South Africa on Sunday LiveNOW from FOX. The magnitude of this achievement cannot be overstated. It halted Australia's 15-match unbeaten streak in ODI World Cups LiveNOW from FOX, a dominant run that had seemed unbreakable. Rodrigues' majestic 127* off 134 balls sealed India's highest-ever successful chase in Women's ODI history kare11.com. The Mental Battle Behind the Brilliance In a deeply moving post-match presentation that left fans worldwide in tears, Jemimah revealed the invisible struggle she had been fighting throughout the tournament. "Everything that happened so far, was a setup for this. Last year, I was dropped from this World Cup. I was in good form. But things kept happening back-to-back, and could not control anything. I have almost cried every day through this tour. Not doing well mentally, going through anxiety. I knew I had to show up, and God took care of everything," Jemimah said Houston Chronicle. Her words resonated with millions who battle mental health challenges while maintaining professional responsibilities. Here was an elite athlete, performing on the world's biggest stage, revealing that she had been crying daily and struggling with anxiety. Adding to the pressure, Jemimah revealed that she wasn't aware about her batting position as it was five minutes before entering the stadium when she was informed Houston Chronicle. Yet, she walked out and delivered when it mattered most. The Chase That Seemed Impossible When Australia posted 338 all out, it looked like an insurmountable total. Batting first, Australia opener Phoebe Litchfield stole the show with her blistering batting. The 22-year-old made 119 runs in 93 balls, as she was well supported by veteran all-rounder Ellysse Perry, who played an anchoring role to score 77 runs The Educated Patient. After the duo departed, Ashleigh Gardner took over the responsibility, making 63 runs off 45 balls The Educated Patient. Australia seemed to have set an unbeatable total. Early Setbacks and Rising Pressure India's chase began disastrously. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana departed rather early, with the hosts put under enormous pressure, being reduced to 59/2 Houston Chronicle. Kim Garth trapped Shafali Verma leg-before in the second over, and the Australian pacer struck again in the 10th over, having Smriti Mandhana nicking behind to Alyssa Healy NTD. The familiar pattern of India faltering in knockouts against Australia seemed to be repeating itself. But this time, Jemimah Rodrigues had other plans. The Partnership That Changed Everything Jemimah and captain Harmanpreet Kaur took charge of the chase at the DY Patil Cricket Stadium. The duo stitched a partnership of 155 runs Houston Chronicle. Actually, multiple sources confirm it was a 167-run stand—Rodrigues stitched together a 167-run stand for the third wicket with captain Harmanpreet, India's highest-ever partnership against Australia in Women's ODIs kare11.com. The captain played the role of an anchor initially after completing her half-century. She eventually departed for 89 runs off 88 balls, and since then, Jemimah took over and played the knock of her life Houston Chronicle. Fortune Favors the Brave (and Australia's Fielding Lapses) Rodrigues was dropped twice throughout the chase but managed to keep her cool until the very end NTD. Jemimah was given a reprieve by the Aussies in the 33rd over after Alyssa Healy dropped the batter. She was batting at 82 when she was dropped by Healy. She was again given a reprieve as Tahlia McGrath dropped the in-form batter on 106 WTHR. Australia had one of their worst outings on the field, both in catching and ground fielding. A relatively straightforward chance of Kaur was put down by her counterpart Healy while Tahlia McGrath spilled an easy chance at mid-off to reprieve Rodrigues LiveNOW from FOX. These lapses would prove costly. But it wasn't just luck—Rodrigues made Australia pay for every mistake. Breaking Records and Making History Jemimah's innings wasn't just match-winning; it was record-breaking: Rodrigues had never gotten an ODI hundred against Australia before and chose the best possible stage for the milestone LiveNOW from FOX She became the youngest centurion against Australia in Women's World Cup history kare11.com Rodrigues became only the second batter ever to score a hundred in a Women's World Cup knockout run-chase, following Nat Sciver-Brunt's unbeaten 148 in the 2022 final kare11.com The 25-year-old's hundred is just the second for India at the Women's World Cup semis or the final after Harmanpreet Kaur's 171 not out against the same opposition back in 2017 WTHR The Moment of Triumph When India needed two runs off 10 balls, her batting partner Amanjot Kaur drove Sophie Molineux through the covers for a boundary to seal the win NTD. No wild celebration. No fist pump. Just a quiet glance to the heavens, a deep breath, and the gentle tap of the bat on the turf. Jemimah knew—it wasn't over yet Newsweek. The Mumbai batter barely showed any emotions on getting to fifty or hundred, and it was only after the game was done that Rodrigues broke down with tears of joy LiveNOW from FOX. Those tears carried the weight of months of struggle, doubt, anxiety, and ultimate redemption. Beyond the Boundary: A Complete Performance Jemimah's contribution wasn't limited to batting. Her razor-sharp fielding dismissed Australia's vice-captain Tahlia McGrath, just when the defending champions were looking to accelerate. In a moment of hesitation and misjudgment, Gardner called for a quick single that proved fatal. McGrath was caught short by a direct hit from Jemimah, whose bullet throw crashed into the stumps The Healthy. Her all-around excellence demonstrated why she's considered one of the most talented cricketers of her generation. The Road to Sunday's Final India will face South Africa in the final on Sunday (November 2) LiveNOW from FOX. The co-hosts are now just one win away from their maiden Women's ODI World Cup title—a trophy that has eluded them despite reaching multiple finals. For Jemimah Rodrigues, the journey to this moment has been anything but straightforward. Dropped from last year's World Cup despite being in good form, battling daily tears and anxiety, finding out her batting position minutes before the match—yet delivering the performance of a lifetime when her country needed her most. The Power of Mental Health Awareness in Sports Jemimah's candid admission about her mental health struggles is significant for several reasons: Breaking the Stigma: Elite athletes are often expected to be mentally invincible. By sharing her vulnerability, Jemimah normalized conversations about anxiety and mental health in sports. Performance Under Pressure: Her story proves that struggling mentally doesn't disqualify you from achieving greatness. It shows that seeking help, showing up despite the pain, and pushing through can lead to extraordinary outcomes. Inspiration for Millions: As many as 20 percent of U.S. military veterans treated through the Department of Veterans Affairs take prazosin NTD—wait, that's about a different topic. What matters here is that Jemimah's story resonates with anyone who has fought invisible battles while maintaining external responsibilities. What This Means for Women's Cricket This match will be studied for years as one of the greatest chases in cricket history. It represents more than just India beating Australia—it symbolizes: The growing competitiveness of women's cricket The emergence of a new generation of fearless players The importance of mental resilience in high-pressure situations The power of believing in yourself when everything seems impossible Looking Ahead: India vs South Africa As India prepares for Sunday's final, they do so with renewed confidence. They've just pulled off the highest successful chase in Women's ODI history, ended Australia's World Cup dominance, and have a hero who delivered under unimaginable pressure. Jemimah Rodrigues entered the stadium not knowing she'd bat at number three. She walked out having almost cried every day of the tournament, battling anxiety and doubting herself. She emerged as a World Cup legend who played one of the greatest innings the format has ever seen. Her message is clear: Your struggles don't define your ceiling. Your courage to show up does. As millions of fans around the world prepare to watch Sunday's final, they'll be watching not just a cricket match, but a team inspired by a player who proved that vulnerability and strength can coexist—and that sometimes, the greatest victories come from the deepest battles. India vs South Africa. Sunday, November 2. One match for glory. One chance to make history. And if Jemimah Rodrigues' journey teaches us anything, it's this: Never count out someone who's already fought their toughest battle before even stepping onto the field.