Jemimah Rodrigues played an innings of a lifetime to power India’s record chase against the mighty Australia and lead them to the final of the 2025 Women’s World Cup. Tributes have since flown in for the team and for Rodrigues herself and some eagle-eyed fans dug out a 2018 post on X by former England captain Nasser Hussain, who is part of the commentary panel in this World Cup.
Hussain can be seen posing with a younger Jemimah in the post. “Remember the name… Jemimah Rodrigues.. did some throw downs with her today .. she’s going to be a star for India,” he says in it. A screenshot of the post has now been put up by the International Cricket Council on its X handle. “Nasser Hussain always knew… Seven years later, Jemimah Rodrigues played a knock for the world to remember,” said the ICC.
Remember the name… Jemimah Rodrigues.. did some throw downs with her today .. she’s going to be a star for India pic.twitter.com/I6VXSYIexb
— Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) April 18, 2018
Rodrigues on Thursday finished unbeaten 127 off 134 balls as India chased down a target of 339 with five wickets and nine balls to spare. However, then came an epic 167-run stand for the third wicket which came in just 156 balls between captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Rodrigues. While Australia had piled on the pressure on the Indian batters with their fielding, cracks started to appear about halfway through that partnership. The biggest of those was captain Alyssa Healy dropping a sitter off Rodrigues in the 33rd over when the latter was on 82.
Incredibly, that was not the only let off that Rodrigues enjoyed on the night. Almost exactly 10 overs later, Tahlia McGrath let a straightforward catch go right through her hands and Rodrigues yet another reprieve, this time when she was on 106.
However, then came an epic 167-run stand for the third wicket which came in just 156 balls between captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Rodrigues. While Australia had piled on the pressure on the Indian batters with their fielding, cracks started to appear about halfway through that partnership. The biggest of those was captain Alyssa Healy dropping a sitter off Rodrigues in the 33rd over when the latter was on 82.
Incredibly, that was not the only let off that Rodrigues enjoyed on the night. Almost exactly 10 overs later, Tahlia McGrath let a straightforward catch go right through her hands and Rodrigues yet another reprieve, this time when she was on 106.
Australia chipped their way back into the match after Harmanpreet, who had been suffering from cramps towards the end of her knock, fell on 89 off 88 balls. Rodrigues then took matters into her own hands, start off the 47th over with a four and then hitting two more in the next. Amanjot Kaur then sealed the deal, smashing the first ball of the 49th over through the off side for a four and then carved the third ball through backward point for another and thus came India’s winning runs.
