India handed defending champion Australia a five-wicket defeat in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 semifinal at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.

The Women in Blue pulled off a record-breaking chase, overhauling a target of 339 in 48.3 overs — the highest successful pursuit in women’s ODI history.

Here are the key talking points from India’s thrilling semifinal win over Australia.

Jemimah-Harmanpreet partnership

Jemimah Rodrigues, who once again proved her worth at No. 3, was the undisputed star of the night with an unbeaten 127. Her 167-run partnership with Harmanpreet Kaur for the fourth wicket proved pivotal in reviving India’s chase after openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana fell inside the PowerPlay. Both batters alternated the role of aggressor, with Harmanpreet shifting gears after reaching her half-century.

Crucial contributions

While Jemimah and Harmanpreet laid the platform for India’s chase, the likes of Deepti Sharma (24), Richa Ghosh (26), and Amanjot Kaur (15*) provided vital support down the order, finding boundaries whenever the asking rate began to climb. Amanjot, who had struggled to find big hits in the league-stage match against England, held her nerve this time and sealed a famous win with a crunching shot through point.

Gardner’s brilliance

Ashleigh Gardner has been one of Australia’s standout performers with both bat and ball throughout the tournament, and she showed her class once again under the D.Y. Patil lights. With Australia at 243 for five in the 40th over, India had done well to curb the scoring and remove centurion Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry. But Gardner, coming in at No. 6, counterattacked with a brisk 63 off 45 balls even as partners fell around her. After lifting Australia to a formidable total, she continued to trouble India with the ball before Richa Ghosh broke free, taking her for a four and a six in the 45th over.

Published on Oct 31, 2025