Jemimah Rodrigues was massively helped by Harmanpreet Kaur’s dismissal in semi-final; know how

When Harmanpreet Kaur walked back after a brilliant 89, it felt like the nightmare was about to repeat itself. The DY Patil Stadium went quiet as India still needed 113 runs in just 88 balls, and Jemimah Rodrigues stood at the crease, fighting both fatigue and memories of past heartbreaks.

She’d lived this moment before. India collapsed big time on previous occasions, including in the 2022 Commonwealth Games final, the 2023 T20 World Cup semi, and again in Sharjah in the T20 World Cup 2024. Every time, India had been within reach until Harmanpreet fell and the batting order crumbled.

Fatigued, Jemimah was close to quit it out…

In the historic semi-final against the same nation again, as Harman’s wicket fell, Jemimah admitted that those ghosts flashed before her eyes. “When that happened, I also felt that way, a flashback,” she said later. “I was telling Harry di that we both have to finish it; we can’t leave it for the end – just because we are set and we know we can take it through. And then that happened.”

What could’ve easily been the beginning of another collapse instead became the moment Jemimah switched into survival mode. After being on the field consistently for over 85 overs, she looked extremely tired. She was exhausted, both mentally and physically, but Harman’s exit in the 36th over brought Jemimah right back on track. She was close to a hundred too, an achievement she said she didn’t care about.

How Harmanpreet Kaur’s wicket helped Jemimah

Before that wicket, Jemimah had been the quieter partner, content to rotate strike as Harmanpreet tore into the bowlers. But as her captain left the stage, the responsibility of finishing what they started fell squarely on her shoulders. It forced Jemimah to reset. The nerves that had haunted her in previous collapses turned into composure.

“When that happened (Harman’s wicket fell) – but actually – it wasn’t a blessing, but it’s like a blessing in disguise for me because I was losing my focus because of my tiredness. But when Harman got out, I think that added more responsibility to me, that okay, I need to be here, okay, she’s out, I’ll score for her. And I think that again got me in the right zone. Then I started just sensibly playing,” Jemimah told reporters in the post-match press conference.

The above statement shows how Harmanpreet Kaur’s dismissal after a great 167-run stand added fuel to a sinking energy tank of Jemimah. Despite getting dropped earlier in the tournament, battling the demons of the past and facing the best bowling unit in women’s cricket, the local girl stood tall. She knew if she stays, India would win. And that is exactly what happened as Jemimah guided India to the highest-ever chase in women’s ODIs.

Special credit should be given to Deepti Sharma (24 off 17), Richa Ghosh (26 off 16) and Amanjot Kaur (15* off 8) as well. The trio went attacking right from the beginning, allowing Jemimah to stay put and anchor the innings.