Following their historic maiden World Cup victory, Indian cricket star Jemimah Rodrigues shared incredibly heartwarming photos of herself and her teammates – Smriti Mandhana, Arundhati Reddy, and Radha Yadav – enjoying a well-deserved rest, still embracing their coveted trophy. The images capture the sheer joy and disbelief of their monumental achievement.
One candid photo shows Jemimah alongside vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, accompanied by the simple yet profound caption, “Good morning world.” Later, they were joined by Arundhati Reddy and Radha Yadav, with Jemimah playfully asking, “Are we still dreaming?”
Jemimah Rodrigues shared heartfelt images with her teammates. (Instagram)
Rodrigues was a pivotal force in India’s journey to the title, delivering a magnificent unbeaten 127 in a record-breaking chase against Australia in the semi-final. This stunning performance allowed India to overcome the formidable Australian team, who had posted a challenging total of 338 with a century from Phoebe Litchfield and half-centuries from Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner.
In that thrilling semi-final, India faced an early setback, falling to 59/2. However, Jemimah Rodrigues (127*) and Harmanpreet Kaur (89) forged an incredible 150-run partnership that turned the tide. Despite some tense late wickets, Rodrigues held her nerve, guiding India to victory with balls to spare. It marked the highest successful chase ever recorded in a World Cup knockout match.
This triumph is more than just a trophy; it’s a monumental moment for women’s cricket in India. This maiden ODI World Cup win is expected to inspire countless young girls across the nation to pick up a bat and ball, forever changing the landscape of the sport.
India secured their place in the final after defeating the seven-time champions Australia in a nail-biting encounter. They then faced South Africa in the Mumbai final, with both teams vying for their first-ever women’s one-day championship in the tournament’s 52-year history. India had previously reached the finals in 2005 and 2017, making this victory a long-awaited and deeply emotional one.