From Kolkata’s Festive Lights to Navi Mumbai’s Glory: India storms into Women’s World Cup 2025 Final!
A thrilling semifinal of ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025. Indian Women's chased down Australia Women's mammoth total successfully. Thanks to Jemimah Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.
Kolkata: On the evening of Thursday, October 30, Kolkata’s streets glowed with countless lights. The chants of mantras drifted from Puja pandals, where groups of well-dressed men and women gathered to celebrate Jagaddhatri Puja. The city, refreshed by a brief spell of rain and gusty winds in the afternoon, embraced a light-hearted festive mood.
According to Google, the distance from Kolkata to Dr. D. Y. Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai is approximately 1,859 kilometers. Yet, while Kolkata was wrapped in devotion and festivity, Navi Mumbai presented a completely different scene — the electrifying atmosphere of a Cricket World Cup semifinal between India and Australia.
In recent times, the Indian men’s team had faced significant challenges against Australia, and fans were eager to see whether the Indian women could overcome the same formidable opponent to reach the final. Australia batted first and posted a commanding total of 338 runs, setting India a target of 339. For Harmanpreet Kaur’s side, which had shown flashes of brilliance but lacked consistency in the group stages, this was a defining moment — victory would mean a place in the final, defeat the end of the journey.
By around 9 PM, as ‘Khichdi Prasad’ was being distributed across various pandals, smartphones began to emerge from pockets. Those without access to live coverage were eagerly asking for updates: “Hey, what’s the score?” Among the crowd, college student Ranit Mehta, an ardent Virat Kohli fan, followed the match closely on his phone. Nearby, 45-year-old Animesh Ghosh found a quiet corner of the pandal to sit and watch the live broadcast.
On the field, Jemimah Rodrigues was in dazzling form, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur provided solid support. Together, they dismantled the Australian bowling attack with confidence and composure. Australian skipper Alyssa Healy appeared helpless as the Indian duo dominated every over.
Jemimah Rodrigues' match winning knock proved decisive in the ICC Women's World Cup semi-final
The performance brought back memories of the late 1990s and early 2000s, when a generation of young talents had inspired Indian cricket fans to dream anew. On this October evening of 2025, those emotions were rekindled — the hope, the excitement, the collective belief. With Jemimah Rodrigues’ unbeaten 127 and Harmanpreet Kaur’s crucial 89, India triumphed over Australia and secured a place in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup final. Their opponent: South Africa.
As the celebrations continued in Kolkata, Navi Mumbai waited with bated breath — ready to witness history in the making.
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