Jemimah Rodrigues is currently India’s most popular women’s cricket star. In the second semi-final of the Women’s World Cup against seven-time champions Australia, she stole the spotlight with a match-winning knock of 127 runs. Even though the team includes stars like Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, all eyes are now on Jemimah ahead of the grand final.
On the other hand, Laura Wolvaardt, the South African captain, will also be in the spotlight. She led from the front to guide South Africa to their first-ever World Cup final, playing a stunning 169-run innings in the semi-final. Tomorrow, in Navi Mumbai, the cricket world will witness a new world champion as India and South Africa clash in the final. Behind this grand battle lies another — the personal duel between Jemimah Rodrigues and Laura Wolvaardt.
Jemimah is also known for her musical talent — she’s an excellent guitarist. Whether she’s in a good or bad mood, she loves strumming her favorite tunes. She often performs Bollywood hits to entertain her teammates, and she’s a good dancer too.
The 25-year-old from Bandra played an unbeaten 127-run innings in Navi Mumbai that may not look massive on paper, but its value is immeasurable — she helped India defeat the mighty Australians, seven-time world champions, to reach the final.
Chasing a towering 339-run target, India lost two dependable batters, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, within the first 56 balls. Jemimah then took charge of the innings with captain Harmanpreet Kaur by her side. Their 167-run partnership laid the foundation for India’s historic win. Jemimah stayed calm under immense pressure, striking 14 fours in her 134-ball innings.
Interestingly, Jemimah wasn’t part of India’s 2022 World Cup squad. Even this time, she had a rough start — two ducks in her first two games. But her 76-run innings against New Zealand in the group stage hinted at something special to come. She proved it in the semi-final with her match-winning 127 not out, taking her tournament tally to 278 runs in seven matches, including one century and one half-century.
Few cricket pundits expected South Africa to reach the final, but captain Laura Wolvaardt remained confident. She has been consistent throughout the tournament, scoring 470 runs in eight matches at a strike rate of 97.91, with one century and three fifties. Her spectacular 169-run match-winning knock against England in Guwahati came off 143 balls, featuring 20 fours and 4 sixes. Her other fifty-plus scores include 70 against India, an unbeaten 60 against Sri Lanka, and 90 against Pakistan.
Tomorrow’s final isn’t just about two teams — it’s about two champions, Jemimah Rodrigues and Laura Wolvaardt, battling for ultimate glory.
