On Thursday, October 30, in Navi Mumbai, under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, India defeated Australia by five wickets in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-final and achieved 339 targets to make history. The women in blue, as a result, progressed to the final against South Africa, which beat England by 125 runs in the semi-final.
It should be noted that this was the first time in Women’s ODI World Cup history that a team had chased 300 or more goals to win a knockout match. In the semi-final, the previous highest run chase was 219 by South Africa against England in 2017, according to Cricbuzz.
After India’s victory over the seven-time winners Australia, a number of former cricketers turned to Instagram and X to wish the team good luck in the final.
T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy-winning captain Rohit Sharma dedicated an Instagram story to the India Women on the special occasion. See the following:
Sachin Tendulkar, a legendary batsman, also took to Instagram to praise Team India. He captioned the post:
“Fabulous victory! Well done @jemimahrodrigues and @imharmanpreet_kaur for leading from the front. Shree Charani and @officialdeeptisharma, you kept the game alive with the ball. Keep the tricolour flying high.”
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly congratulated the Women in Blue, writing:
“Incredible stuff from the girls .. how good they have become in last 5 years .. one more to go .. just outstanding.”
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan commented:
“Wow .. What a chase .. any team that beats Australia deserve to win the WC.”
Here are a few more reactions:
🇮🇳 Hamari ladkiya kisi se kam nahi hai . So proud of you all. Love it . Bring it on The BIg Final . Whooo hoooo way to go @BCCIWomen #WomensWorldCup2025 #CWC25 @ImHarmanpreet and team 💥❤️
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 30, 2025Wow just WOW!! So happy and PROUD of our women!! Just AMAZINGGGGGH!! Well done Jemi!! You are absolute DELIGHT!! An ABSOLUTE CHAMPION!! Well done Harman on a captain’s knock!! Just CLASS!! 💪🏾 ONE MORE TO GO!! Come on GIRLS!!
— Robbie Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) October 30, 2025Fine 🍷. This team is an inspiration @BCCIWomen https://t.co/oGXcCMpPKZ
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) October 30, 2025What happened in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 semifinal match?
Alyssa Healy-led Australia were bowled out for 338 in 49.5 overs after batting first. Phoebe Litchfield excelled with the bat, scoring 119 off 93 balls in an innings that included three sixes and 17 fours. Ellyse Perry, an all-rounder, also scored 77 from 88 deliveries, including two maximums and six fours. The pair formed a 155-run partnership for the second wicket. Ashleigh Gardner delivered the finishing flourish, scoring 63 runs off 45 deliveries, including four sixes and as many boundaries.
Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma were India’s leading wicket-takers, with two wickets each. Meanwhile, Kranti Gaud, Amanjot Kaur, and Radha Yadav each scored one.
The hosts met their target of 339 with nine deliveries in hand. Jemimah Rodrigues struck an undefeated 127 runs off 134 balls to lead her team to victory. Her innings included 14 boundaries. Harmanpreet ably supported her, striking 89 off 88 deliveries, including two sixes and ten boundaries. The two batsmen put on a 167-run partnership for the third wicket to enable India recover from 59/2.
Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh also contributed useful knocks of 24 (17) and 26 (16). Amanjot Kaur, who remained unbeaten at 15 from eight deliveries, scored the winning boundary off Sophie Molineux in the penultimate over. Meanwhile, Annabel Sutherland and Kim Garth each took two wickets for the Aussies.
India will face South Africa in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final on Sunday, November 2, in Navi Mumbai. The Women in Blue will compete in their third final, having previously lost to Australia in 2005 and to England in 2017.
